What To Do When Your Car Is Overheating?

Engines overheat when the cooling system fails to function properly, causing trapped heat. Causes may include a coolant leak, faulty radiator fan, water pump malfunction, low engine oil, or a broken thermostat. Ignoring an overheating engine can lead to severe and potentially permanent engine damage.

Signs Your Engine Is Overheating

Engines usually show signs before overheating. Here are four of the signs:

  1. Unusual sweet smell from the engine (could be leaking radiator fluid or coolant)
  2. Steam resembling smoke coming from under the hood
  3. Temperature gauge needle suddenly reaching ‘H’ (hot) or going into the red zone (symbols may vary, refer to your owner’s manual for your car’s gauge)
  4. “Check Engine” or “Temperature” light turning on in your dashboard cluster

What To Do When Your Engine Overheats?

Kill The A/C And Crank The Heat

Right away, switch off the air conditioner to ease the pressure on the engine. Then, set the dial to the hottest setting. This can draw heat away from the engine, preventing it from overheating until you can stop in a safe place. You might feel a bit warm, but enduring a few minutes of discomfort is much better than facing costly engine repairs.

Find A Safe Place To Pull Over.

Stop the car and turn off the engine. Let it cool down for at least 15 minutes. Watch the temperature gauge; it should go back to normal as the engine cools. While waiting and monitoring the gauge, make a plan to have your overheated engine inspected.

Review your coolant levels

If your car overheats, it might be because of a coolant leak. After pulling over safely, check your coolant levels. If they’re low and you have extra coolant, add some to help temporarily until you can solve the main problem. However, if the overheating is due to a hose or radiator issue, adding coolant won’t solve the problem.

Restart The Engine.

If your car isn’t being towed, it’s safe to restart the engine cautiously and head to the nearest auto repair shop. While driving, monitor the temperature gauge. If it starts rising again, pull over and allow the system to cool down.

What To Avoid If Your Car Is Overheating

  1. Don’t simply continue driving to your destination. Even if your overheated engine is still running, it’s not okay. Continuing to drive can cause irreparable damage to your engine.
  2. Stay calm. Your engine might be overheating, but it’s crucial for you to remain composed! Drive cautiously until you find a safe spot to pull over.
  3. Avoid opening the hood right away. It’s very hot under there, and you could get burned if you’re too hasty. Wait until the gauge returns to normal or the warning light goes off before opening the hood.
  4. Don’t wait for the problem to fix itself. An overheating engine won’t repair itself, so it’s best to take it to an auto repair shop.

If you look after your car, it will look after you. To avoid an overheating engine, make sure to get regular check-ups and coolant changes for your car. Keep up with radiator maintenance as advised by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Regular inspections can also help identify and fix potential radiator or engine problems before they become serious.