What to Do When Your Vehicle Overheats
Picture this: you are cruising down the highway, the sun is shining on the horizon, and your family is singing the songs your wife iplaying on the radio. Everyone is having a good time on the road trip. Suddenly, you notice the Check Engine Light (CEL) light up and smoke coming out of your car’s hood. You pull over. Now what? Disaster strikes in the most inopportune times, and while there are many things you can do to avoid this, it is best to know what you need to do (and not to do) in case this happens. Here’s what to do when your vehicle overheats.
FAQs
- Vehicle engines can overheat for various reasons, such as a leak in the cooling system, a bad radiator, or a defective thermostat.
- Follow the steps on what to do when your vehicle overheats to avoid long-term damage to your car’s engine.
- Discover what not to do when your car overheats to prevent aggravating the problem.
- Discover how you can prevent your vehicle from overheating.
Why Do Car Engines Overheat?
First off, you need to know what causes the engine to overheat. Generally, this is caused by issues in the cooling system, causing the heat to get trapped and unable to escape the engine compartment. Some of the most common reasons include the following.
Cooling system leak
The engine’s cooling system circulates coolant through the hottest zones of the engine, from the engine block to the cylinder heat and all the way to the radiator. When there is a leak, the temperature will shoot up, leading to overheating. A leak can be caused by a cracked engine block, worn-out gasket, faulty hose, or damaged radiator.
Low coolant levels
Coolant (or antifreeze) works by absorbing the heat from the engine and releasing it to the radiator. If your car doesn’t have enough coolant, it won’t be able to cool the engine effectively, which can definitely lead to overheating. The same goes for old and poor-quality coolants.
Bad radiator
The radiator is the heart of the vehicle’s cooling system. Coolant is constantly circulated in this area to absorb engine heat. How can it go bad? Blocked passages, damaged and bent radiator fins, broken radiator fan, damaged or leaking radiator pump, etc., will cut off the flow of coolant, keeping the heat from flowing thoroughly.
Defective thermostat
The thermostat determines when to send out the coolant. If it’s defective (stuck closed), the coolant will not be able to reach the engine to cool it down.
Other common reasons for engine overheating include low engine oil level, faulty water pump, blocked or collapsed hoses, faulty engine belts, heavy driving conditions, and excessive engine workload.
What to Do When Your Vehicle Overheats
Turn off the A/C, crank the heater up, open the windows
As soon as you notice the alarm of the engine overheating, you need to reduce the stress in the engine by turning the AC off. Then, crank the heater to the maximum to help pull out heat from the engine and open the windows to release the warm air. This may seem uncomfortable, but it’s the best thing to do to avoid further damage to your engine.
Find a safe place to pull over.
Find a safe spot to pull over and shut off the car’s engine. Let it cool down for 15 minutes, keeping an eye on the temperature gauge. The temperature should lower as the engine cools. While waiting for this to happen, plan how you can get your overheated engine checked out. Call a towing service, your trusted friend, the nearest car repair shop, etc., to help tow your vehicle.
Try to restart the engine.
If you can’t find someone to tow your car, try restarting it and driving it carefully to the nearest repair shop. Again, keep an eye on the temperature in your dashboard. If the engine overheats again, pull over and let it cool down again.
Pop up the hood (carefully), and check the coolant level (if possible)
You can check the coolant level in your engine. To do this, pop the hood to check the radiator. Be very cautious with this, as the hood and various components inside can be extremely hot. Giving it a few minutes to cool down before you lift the hood open is best.
If you have some coolant with you, you can top it off. Make sure the engine has cooled down before you open the radiator cap. Never open a hot radiator, as coolant can spray out and cause serious burns. Add as much coolant as your reservoir tank can take.
What NOT to Do When Your Vehicle Overheats
Don’t Panic
Now is not the right time to lose your cool. Drive until you find a safe place to pull over.
Don’t keep driving
The worst thing you can do to an overheating engine is ignore the warning signs and keep driving. This can cause serious, irreparable damage to your engine.
Don’t open the hood immediately.
At this point, the hood is extremely hot. Let it cool down for a few minutes before lifting it open.
Don’t open the radiator cap immediately.
As said earlier, the radiator contains extremely hot coolant. You want it to cool down before you crank the radiator cap open, or you risk getting burns from bursting coolant.
Don’t splash cold water on the engine or radiator.
Adding cold water to an overheating engine or cold water to the radiator will cause the metal to crack, and this can be an expensive fix.
Preventing Overheated Car Engine
Check the coolant level regularly.
Make it a habit to check your car’s coolant level every few weeks, especially during hot weather and before long trips. If your coolant is old and dirty, you need to replace it. Otherwise, you can easily top up the existing coolant.
Check for leaks
Look for signs of coolant leaks around hoses or underneath your car. If you notice any or if your car looks like it is running low on coolant, have them fixed as soon as possible.
Keep the radiator clean.
Dirt and debris can block the radiator’s airflow, rendering it ineffective in cooling the engine. A quick spray using a hose from time to time will keep the radiator clean.
Service the radiator and thermostat.
Your regular maintenance should include an inspection of your radiator and thermostat.
Replace worn belts and hoses.
Old belts and hoses can loosen or break, leading to overheating problems. Make sure to have these parts checked and replaced when necessary.
Wrap up
An overheating engine can be stressful, but with some know-how and preparation, you can handle this problem like a pro. To break it down, the most important thing to do is to stay calm, turn off the AC, crank the heat up, pull over, and turn the engine off to let it cool down before turning it back on again. Moreover, regular maintenance can help you avoid this problem.
Securing a warranty coverage that comes with roadside assistance is a great way to have peace of mind so that you can get the assistance you need in case you run into trouble.
