Today’s cars have advanced cooling systems with multiple heat sensors and computer-controlled electric fans designed to keep your engine running in any weather, but overheating can still happen. If your car overheats, you might just keep driving it and hope it cools down along the way, but in fact, driving an overheated car can cause more damage and make the problem worse. Even if your car eventually cools down, it’s not necessarily safe to drive it. So if your car does overheat, it’s best to pull over and call a tow truck, so there are things you should know before you take the plunge. Read on to learn the best ways to prevent your car from overheating and what you can do if your car starts to heat up.
What Causes The Car to Overheat?
The most common culprit is a coolant leak, which can be caused by things like a loose hose or a cracked radiator. Car engines can also overheat when they are low on coolant when you don’t fill your car with coolant or when there’s a leak in the engine that causes coolant to escape. Another possible cause is an overheated engine, which can happen if you drive in hot weather or if your car doesn’t have good ventilation.
What are signs of an engine overheating?
While every car and every situation may be different, here are a few common signs that your car’s engine is starting to overheat:
A strange odor emanates from the front of the car, especially near the hood. Leaking coolant often has a sweet smell, while oil leaks often produce a burning odor.
Steam (often looking like smoke) comes out from under the hood at the front of the car.
The engine temperature gauge on the dashboard or driver’s console suddenly rises to “H” or moves into the red area of the gauge.
How Do I Know if My Car Is Overheating?
If you suspect your car is overheating, the best thing to do is to stop in a safe place and let it cool down before trying to drive it again. When your car overheats, you may see the temperature gauge on your dashboard rise into the red zone. You may also see steam or smoke coming out from under the hood, which is a sign that you need to pull over immediately, but if your car has already overheated, you must drain all of the engine’s coolant to prevent further damage. If this happens, it is imperative that your car is taken in for professional repairs so that it is safe to return to the road.
Why do engines overheat and how can I avoid it?
Generally, a car overheats because there’s a problem with the cooling system that prevents heat from escaping to the engine compartment. This is usually due to a leak or blockage somewhere in the engine’s cooling system or other components. Other sources could be a faulty or damaged water pump or radiator fan, or a clogged coolant hose. Components like rubber hoses, gaskets, and water pumps can develop leaks from normal wear and tear.
Also, certain driving conditions, such as stop-and-go traffic on a hot day, can put so much stress on the cooling system that it can fail. You can usually avoid this problem with regular maintenance by a certified mechanic, who will check your car’s coolant and oil levels and inspect the hoses, fan, thermostat, and other components in the cooling system, Renner says.
What are the Dangers of Driving an Overheated Car?
In some cases, an overheated engine may seize completely, requiring complete replacement. If your car overheats, you may suffer serious engine damage that is expensive to repair. In addition to the potentially expensive repair bill, driving an overheated car is also dangerous if the engine seizes while you are driving; you could lose control of the vehicle and be in a serious accident.
5 steps to take when you have an engine overheating:
1.If you have roadside assistance, now is a good time to call, because you may need a tow truck, and if your car still overheats after driving for a few minutes with the heater on, pull over and turn off the engine—the safest, surest way to cool it down.
2.With the heater on, it draws engine heat into the passenger compartment, taking some of the strain off the engine’s cooling system. It sounds counterintuitive, but in some cases, it may be enough to reverse an overheat. You’ll know it’s working if the warning light goes off or the temperature gauge returns to neutral.
3.When you’ve waited at least 15 minutes and the hood is cool to the touch, put on gloves, open the hood, and locate the radiator cap (refer to your owner’s manual if necessary). Cover the cap with a towel, slowly push down, and loosen a quarter turn to relieve pressure from the coolant’s expansion due to heat. Then open the radiator cap completely and slowly add coolant—half water, half antifreeze—until the fluid reaches the “full” line. You should also add coolant to the small clear plastic overflow container mounted on the side of the radiator. Next, replace the cap and start the engine.
4.It will take at least 15 minutes for the engine to cool, so if you don’t have roadside assistance, be patient. During this time, don’t try to open the hood. The coolant in an overheated car can be over 230 degrees. Once you open the hood, you risk being sprayed with hot water or steam. Your personal safety is the most important thing, so wait at least 15 minutes to let the hood, engine, and leaking coolant cool down.
5.Take your car to a repair shop. Adding coolant won’t fix the problem that caused your engine to overheat, but it will usually allow you to safely drive to the nearest repair shop where a professional will need to check your car’s cooling system. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge while you drive. And pay attention to anything, such as fluid underneath the car or steam under the hood.
If you need to buy auto spare part, please click here to contact us,we are one of the leading supplier of auto spare parts in China. We supply quality, inexpensive, OE replacement parts for suspension system, brake system, electrical sensor system and so on.We hope to become your earnest business partner and your contact will be warmly welcomed.
