Engine heating going uphill

Acey10

Hi,

I've a hyundai i20. I've taken up hiking but whenever I drive uphill on my way to the mountains my engine gets really hot. I've had it checked over in the garage and they can't find anything wrong with the coolant etc.

Any advice please, I'm thinking of quitting the hiking because I'm afraid of the car over heating.

Thanks!

dmc17

You're supposed to walk up the mountain, not drive

T-Maxx

How do you know it's overheating?

Del2005

Unless the thermometer is going into the red or the fan isn't working it's not an issue.

Acey10

The bonnet gets really warm and there's abit of a burning smell?

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626512#Comment_121626512

What's the temperature gauge showing.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626512#Comment_121626512

The bonnet will be warm.

Are you sure it's not the clutch though many people will confuse the 2.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626512#Comment_121626512

That doesn’t mean its overheating. Your bonnet will always be warm. Its common enough for small cars to smell like burning when you push them hard. I can get a Volkswagen Up to smell the same without even driving uphill.

delly

Most common car burning smells are clutch and brakes. Overheating tends not to smell unless the engine is about to pop. If the temperature gauge is looking normal, then it is not the engine.

Do you drive in a low gear and high revs because of the gradient, does your foot ride the clutch?

almostover

How old is the car? How many kms? If the temp gauge is not in the red when you get this smell it could be the clutch slipping? Do the engine revs race when driving up a steep hill? Clutch could be worn and is slipping under heavy load when going uphill.

Acey10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626519#Comment_121626519

Not sure, it's not flashing or anything but I'll keep an eye the next time, thanks.

Acey10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626895#Comment_121626895

It's a 142. 40,000 km. Yeah it does rev a bit, the garage said all was fine, I might get a second opinion, thanks.

Acey10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121626842#Comment_121626842

Yeah I stay in a low gear, I do panic going uphill because I'm afraid of rolling back.. What's the correct way to go uphill?

Miscreant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121630089#Comment_121630089

Just drive up the hill as you would normally drive anywhere. If the car starts to bog down, drop a gear to get a little more power. Keep your foot off the clutch between gear changes and that will reduce the likelihood of "riding the clutch". If you are starting the car on a hill, don't release the handbrake until you can feel the car wanting to take off. That way, you won't roll back.

Are you relatively new to driving?

Acey10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121630107#Comment_121630107

Thanks so much, really appreciate that advice. No, not new to driving but did have an incident while learning where I rolled back on a hill so I probably do panic when going up a long one.

Thanks for all the help.

Acey10

Hi again,

So I went to Ticknock, driving up hills the temperature of the engine was about 80, what it usually is when driving. The bonnet did feel hot when I parked but everything else seemed OK?

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121795830#Comment_121795830

This is all normal

Miscreant

You are worrying a little too much about this and it is causing you anxiety. An engine temp of 80 sounds fine to me but watch out if the temp needle goes into the red. This is what you should watch out for and not the overall temperature reading. The car has a temp gauge for a reason and this will tell you when the engine is overheating.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121795830#Comment_121795830

80 is still cold anything up to 100 is normal. Of course the bonnet is going to hot. Stop worrying

josip

Do you drive in your hiking boots or change into them when you get there? If you're driving in them, the thicker soles of the hiking boots could be causing you to ride the clutch.

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121795830#Comment_121795830

As others have said all perfectly normal for an internal combustion engine, where a substantial amount of energy from your burning fuel is lost as waste heat.

Your car has an electric cooling fan fitted which will run when the engine considers itself too hot, even with the car switched off. If the engine was really hot, you'd hear the fan running after you parked. All perfectly normal as long as your temperature gauge is not in the red zone.

Henry Ford III

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121630056#Comment_121630056

The temperature gauge is the critical thing. How hit the bonnet might feel isn't important.

Burning smell wise are you certain your left foot is clear of the clutch?

Acey10

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the helpful comments, yeah I have been driving in the hiking boots 🤦🏻‍♀️

I'll keep an eye on my foot on the clutch. Thanks again!!!

kirving

Clutch will often small like boiling Brussel Sprouts if that helps.

The hill by ticknock can often be busy, and the road is narrow meaning you can end up stopping to let others pass. Sometimes trying to be gentle on the clutch is actually worse for it than being more aggressive. Handbrake if you do stop, slowly off the clutch until it starts to bit, and then quickly once it does bite. Trying to feather it too much to prevent you cutting out will cause it to burn.

Some burning will be expected though in a small car on a steep hill.