Many people face the overheating issue in Silverado while driving at normal speed and are stuck in traffic for a longer time.
Why Does My Silverado Overheat When AC is On? The overheating of the Silverado when the AC is ON is due to a faulty thermostat, the problem with the radiator fan, a low level of coolant, and a fault in the AC. In addition, the poor cooling system, low level of coolant, and defective coolant sensor will not absorb the heat from the engine, resulting in overeating. You will not be able to sit inside when the AC is blowing hot air, and the warm air damages the other parts. The temperature of the engine increase from 192 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit when there is a workload on the engine.
When the engine produces excessive heat, it damages the nearby parts and melts the nuts and gaskets. In addition, it will result in the improper functioning of the truck because the nuts and belts are loose.
Why is Silverado overheating with AC on?
Many parts are present in the truck that eliminates heat, but sometimes the excessive heat will damage the sensitive parts of the pickup due to a fault in the system.
Faulty thermostats and radiator fan
A thermostat maintains the temperature of the internal compartment of the truck when you drive it at higher and lower speeds.
Many people complain about excessive heat due to the faulty thermostats in the Silverado.
The radiator fan works as an exhaust fan and releases the heat outside the vehicle. Sometimes loose fan clutch and rust around the joint of fan wings restrict it from moving freely.
Moreover, a loose connection with the battery and wires melting will not pass the current to the fan. As a result, the fan will not release the heat and cool down the radiator, so the overheating of the vehicle starts.
Low level of Coolant
The coolant is a fluid present in the radiator’s reservoir; it moves when the temperature rises and brings the temperature to an average level.
The low coolant level is one of the causes of overheating when the air conditioner is on in the truck.
It also affects the engine efficiency and sometimes blows the head gasket, resulting in the production of steam.
Damaged water pump
The water pump circulates the coolant all over the engine compartment to absorb heat and release it outside into the atmosphere.
Sometimes, the damaged pulley and faulty water pump do not allow the coolant to move in the radiator.
It will result in heat production in the pickup even if you turn on the air conditioner to normalize the temperature.
The water pump will not move properly due to corrosion and less lubrication. In addition, the overheating will crack the engine block and damages the piston and cylinders.
Fault in AC
Sometimes the AC does not work due to its fault and increases the temperature of the internal environment. Many people think that the excessive heat is because of the malfunctioning of the engine.
The problem with the switch, wires, grill, and refrigerant also affects the working of AC in the truck.
So whenever you feel hot air coming from the wings of the air conditioner, it is better to check its connections.
Many people forget to set the air conditioner’s temperature, so you should set the temperature.
Improper lubrication and used oil
The proper lubrication protects the Silverado from rubbing and hitting the other nearby parts and prevents damage.
The use of low-quality lubricants with insufficient viscosity and contamination with foreign objects do not adequately lubricate the parts.
It will result in excessive heat production because it puts an extra load on the engine to move the jam and dry parts.
Many people do not change the oil timely and drive their vehicles in the presence of expired oil. Furthermore, they ignore the warning light blinking on the screen to change the oil.
It will result in acid buildups in the engine compartments, ultimately heating the compartment. The heat will go inside through the compressor and warm it up while the AC is On.
Failure of condenser and compressor
The main purpose of the condenser in the truck is to condense the refrigerant from a gaseous to a liquid state. When the refrigerant releases heat, it returns to its liquid form.
The accumulation of dust, dirt, and foreign objects on the condenser decreases its efficiency in condensing the refrigerants.
It will result in the overheating of the truck, but when the temperature increases more, it will shut off the vehicle.
The electoral problem can affect the compressor activity, ultimately increasing the heat.
In addition, incorrect suction line size, contamination, and inadequate lubrication reduce the impact on the compressor’s working.
The heat spreads around and affects the other parts when the compressor does not work correctly.
Therefore, it is better to clean and lubricate each component and check the power supply to solve this issue.
Poor cooling system
The cooling system is essential in the Silverado to protect it from overheating. Sometimes the AC does not work due to the poor cooling system in the truck.
The leakage of the liquid from the cooling system lowers its performance to absorb heat from the engine side and release it outside the vehicle.
When the dust accumulates in the cooling system, it blocks the hoses, and leakage starts from the other side.
Blockage of coolant hose and defective coolant sensor
Coolant moves through the radiators to the engine to collect the heat, but sometimes the issue of low-quality coolant in the radiators freezes in the hoses.
It will not allow the liquid to move correctly and overheat the pickup’s engine. In addition, the defect in the coolant sensor impacts its cycle and will not capture the heart.
The coolant sensor does not work with a poor electrical connection and low-quality wires to connect with the connectors.
As a result, it will not detect the heat inside the vehicle and transfer the signals to the radiators to leave the coolant.
The engine will overheat when it remains for longer; it moves inside through the AC and damages the seats’ leather.
Weather effect
Many people live in that area where the weather remains hot for a longer time in the winters. The hot weather affects the engine performance of the Silverado as you drive it daily for your work.
The heat directly falls on the pickup surface; when you expose the vehicle to the sun for a longer time, it transmits the heat to the internal parts.
The hot weather reduces the engine performance and overheats the vehicle while the AC is on.
Therefore, it is better to modify your truck according to the weather by applying heat-resistant lamination outside on the surface.
Overloading
Excessive heat in the Silverado is overloading and stresses the engine when you put a lot of luggage on the truck and take it to far places.
The engine will work more than its efficiency to drag the heavy load. It also consumes more fuel; fuel burning produces more heat that ultimately overheats the truck.
What will happen when Silverado overheats while the AC is On?
The improper working of AC due to the overheating of the truck damages the other parts and lowers the engine’s efficiency.
When the heat remains in the engine compartment, it affects the cylinders, pistons, and spark plug and melts the nuts, ultimately losing the engine belts.
These parts will hit each other and shut off the vehicle during driving or standing in the parking.
In addition, you will see steam coming out from the front of the truck due to the production of excessive heat inside.
It will blur the front view as well as make the windows foggy. In the same way, when the heat comes inside, it decreases the cooling effect of the air conditioner.
The AC will not work correctly, and you cannot sit inside for at least 10 minutes.
In addition, you can feel the burning smell coming from the AC grill with hot air due to the overheating in the engine compartment.
Should I turn off the AC if my Silverado is overheating?
When the AC remains on in this condition, it puts the stress on the engine to extra work. As a result, the overheated engine needs more energy to work, and sometimes the burning starts.
You should turn off the air conditioner and open the windows and hood of the truck to check the major issue behind overheating.
Is overheating normal in Silverado when AC is On?
The engine’s heating is normal because its temperature is higher than the environment temperature. However, mostly the temperature remains 190 degrees Fahrenheit in the normal circumstance.
It increases from 190 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit when the engine overheats. It happens when you go on a long tour and continue to drive it without staying.
It stresses the engine, especially when you go uphill and on uneven terrains. Therefore, you should measure the temperature and level of coolant after some time to continue your safe journey.
Related Articles: