What To Do When Your Car Overheats

T he sun is shining, school is out, and the open road calls you and your family. Picnics with your family, vacation days at the beach, and long, carefree drives are all things you want to remember fondly. You don't want to remember being stranded in an overheated car on a hot summer day, here’s what to do when your car overheats!

Any car can overheat, so it's a good idea to be prepared. Taking the right safeguards is critical for your safety and to help prevent the harm that an overheated engine can cause.

Modern automobiles tend to use innovative cooling systems with digital navigation electric fans and several heat sensors to keep your car running in all weather conditions. However, it can still overheat.

Why Do Cars Overheat?

Overheating engines can be caused by a large number of circumstances. This is usually caused by a fault with the cooling system, which prevents heat from leaving the engine compartment. This is frequently caused by a leak or obstruction in the cooling system or other engine components.

We will be talking about the things to do when your car overheats.

Don't Panic. Pull Over.

You will have to remember that since your car's engine is not cool right now, you will have to fill in that spot. Do not panic and lose out to stress. If you are in traffic, then start driving slower. Look for a safe space to park your car and drive to it slowly.

Pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine. Let at least 20 minutes pass for the engine to cool. Keep a watch on the temperature monitor; it should return to normal when the engine cools.

Turn The Heater On

If you still have your car running, then we recommend turning off the air conditioner right away. The engine and cooling system will be less stressed due to this. It would help if you turned on the heater, which may seem paradoxical. It takes heat from the engine to the passenger side, making the engine's cooling system less taxed. This helps reverse overheating in some circumstances. If the warning light turns off and the temperature needle goes back to its neutral position, you know it's working.

Practice Patience

If you don't have access to roadside help, be patient. Cooling your engine will take at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, avoid opening the hood because the coolant liquid in an overheated car could be as hot as 230 degrees. There's a chance of coming in contact with steam or hot water if the hood is opened. Allowing at least 15 minutes for the engine, engine, and leaking coolant to lose its heat is recommended.

Pop The Head And Add Coolant

Put on your safety gloves, open the car hood, and look under it for the radiator cap. (check the owner's manual if necessary) after waiting at least ten to fifteen minutes if the hood of the car is cool to the touch. Hold the radiator cap with a cloth or a towel and loosen it slightly to let out the pressure that is trapped inside since the coolant expands when heated. 

Then, with the radiator cap fully open, slowly pour in coolant —half water, half antifreeze— until the liquid level reaches the "full" line. He also recommends filling the little, clear plastic overflow reservoir on the side of the radiator with coolant. Replacing the cap and starting the engine are the next steps. If the temperature gauge or the dashboard warning light returns to normal, proceed cautiously while keeping an eye on the gauge. Here’s how to add coolant to a car. 

Drive To A Service Station or Get Towed

Adding coolant won't fix the problem that caused your engine to overheat in the first place, but it will usually get you to the nearest repair shop safely. Your car's cooling system will need to be inspected by a specialist.

If your automobile isn't being towed, carefully restart it. While driving to the closest repair shop, keep your eye on your gauge/light. Pull over and let it cool if it starts to creep up/illuminate again.

Now you have an idea of what to do when your car overheats, so you will not be in a pickle if it ever happens. It's quite a stressful thing to go through, but you should be able to deal with it now. Remember, car safety is crucial at all times!