What Happens When My Engine Overheats?
Manufacturers design engines to operate within a certain temperature range. As temperatures change- the metals and components will expand and contract and, as long as they stay within the design temperature parameters, everything works well together. If you exceed those temperatures then things start to expand more than they are designed for and things start to fail.
The most common failure point is a blown head gasket. Head gaskets typically fail when an engine is overheated and the cylinder head temporarily warps enough to release the clamping pressure on the head gasket in between the bolts and the gasket fails.
It is also possible that the temporary warping of the head can cause the head to crack. Another common problem is that the pistons can expand enough that they start to rub into the cylinder walls... causing more heat. Engine oil can also start to break down at high temperatures and cause main bearing and rod bearing failure.
Moral of this story- Keep your radiator clean and full of coolant so your engine stays happy.
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