My car is overheating! Help!

You are driving in the middle of the night with no cars in sight. Suddenly, your car is acting up, leading you to panic and pull over on the poorly-lit side of the road. Now that smoke is releasing from your car, you know for sure that something eerie is befalling, just like in the movies! Well, we are here to tell you that nothing spooky is going on. Your car is just overheating.

Why is my car overheating? Should I be worried?

There are many reasons as to why your car overheats but the main reason is that there is something wrong with the cooling system—heat cannot escape the engine compartment. This can happen due to a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump or clogged radiator. All of these can be monitored early on, and when you take care of your car, it will also take care of you. However, if you ended up with an overheating car, you should know the dos and don’ts of handling the situation.

What to DO when your car overheats

There are a series of dos and don’ts when it comes to handling a spur-of-the-moment situation such as this. It will be helpful to know them beforehand so that you are always prepared for emergency situations.

#1 PULL OVER!

Find a safe place for you to pull over and slowly do so. After you have successfully pulled over, turn off your car’s engine to let it cool for at least 30 minutes. When the temperature gauge is looking normal, open the bonnet or hood but be careful not to burn yourself as there will be hot steam coming out. Remember—eyes on the gauge and monitor your car’s temperature.

#2 TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER

When your car overheats, you might be tempted to crank up the air conditioner. Do your car a favour and avoid that. The A/C puts a heavy load on the engine and turning it off can reduce engine stress. What you can do, instead, is wind down your windows while you drive to a safe spot to park.

#3 FILL YOUR COOLANT

Look at your radiator and hoses to find leaking coolant. If you can’t find it, that means there is no leaking in the first place and your car is just low on coolant. To check your coolant level, you need to remove the radiator cap (use a towel) and they can be super hot so be sure to wait until your car has cooled down. Your coolant should reach the top of the radiator. If it doesn’t, you need to refill it. Don’t have proper coolant? You can just use room temperature water for a quick fix.

#4 CALL FOR HELP

If you have a coolant leak or a more complex situation, the best option is to call a mechanic. You can continue to drive to the nearest auto repair shop but only when your temperature gauge is normal. Keep your eyes on the gauge at all times and if the temperature rises again, pull over and wait for the system to cool down. You can also just call for assistance to get your car towed and fixed.

What NOT to do when your car overheats

Now that you know what to do when your car overheats, you should also be mindful of what not to do when dealing with this.

#1 DO NOT PANIC!

It’s natural to be taken aback by a sudden car malfunction but if possible, try to keep your cool. Your car might not be able to keep its cool but you should. Do not make any sudden breaks in the middle of the road and do not swerve your car uncontrollably. Quickly find a safe spot to pull over.

#2 DO NOT POP YOUR HOOD IMMEDIATELY

Your hood will release hot smoke so you need to be smart about it. The same goes to opening radiator caps. These methods require you to be patient and wait until they have cooled down (that is if you want to avoid any unnecessary injuries).

#3 DO NOT KEEP ON DRIVING

You do not want to exert pressure on your car’s engine. Sure, your car might be able to last a few kilometres to the next auto repair shop, but driving when your engine is overheating does more harm than good. The best way is to park your car and wait for it to cool down, do some checks before you hit the road again.

#4 DO NOT DELAY THE PROBLEM

Refilling the coolant might make your car seem like it’s in better shape but do not let the problem go unaddressed. Get your car checked at the nearest auto repair shop or just leave it to us. We will diagnose the problem, get to the root of the issue and help fix your car.

If your car is due for a service, do drop by our workshop to get it inspected and fixed. Your safety is our priority!

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