A Guide for Drivers on What to Do if Your Car is Overheating

Cars overheat for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is simply that the car has been driven too hard or for too long without a break. This can happen on a hot day, or even on a relatively cool day if the car has been working harder than usual. Other potential causes of overheating include low coolant levels, a failed water pump, or a radiator that is blocked or needs to be cleaned. This summer, if your car overheats, this guide will help you know what to do.

What Does Overheating Mean?

Overheating occurs when the car’s engine gets too hot. The coolant system is designed to keep the engine at a constant temperature, but if it fails, the engine will start to get too hot. If the problem is not fixed, the engine can be damaged or even destroyed.

Signs Your Car is Overheating

There are a few signs that your car is overheating. The most obvious is the temperature gauge on the dashboard. If it is in the red zone, or if the needle is past the “H,” your car is too hot. Other signs include steam coming from under the hood, or a burning smell coming from the engine compartment.

Causes

Cars overheat for a variety of reasons, but the most common reason is simply that the car has been driven too hard or for too long without a break. This can happen on a hot day, or even on a relatively cool day if the car has been working harder than usual. Other potential causes of overheating include:

• Coolant leak: your engine needs coolant to stay cool as it runs. Your car has an entire cooling system that keeps the coolant moving smoothly. If any of the components within that system get damaged, they could leak.
• Clogged hoses: if there is no leak, overheating could be due to a clogged coolant hose.
• Bad water pump: the water pump propels the coolant so it can flow through the cooling system. If it’s damaged, your engine can overheat.
• Faulty radiator: the radiator transfers heat out of the hot coolant so it can cycle back into the engine and cool down again. If you have a bad radiator, the coolant is going to stay hot — which means your engine will, too.
• Wrong coolant: if there are no leaks or faulty components and you just put new coolant in your car recently, you could have used the wrong cooling fluid. This means you’ll need to flush the system and add the correct coolant back.
• Low engine oil: if your engine has too low of an oil amount, excess friction can drastically raise the engine temperature.

What to Do if Your Car is Overheating

Overheating can be a serious problem, but if you know what to do, it is not difficult to fix. By following this guide, you can keep your car running smoothly all summer long.

If your car is overheating, the first thing you should do is pull over and turn off the engine. It is important to do this as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to the engine. Once the engine is off, open the hood and let the car cool down. Do not open the radiator cap until the engine is completely cool, as hot coolant can cause serious burns.

Once the engine is cool, check the coolant level and add coolant if necessary.  If you don’t have coolant with you, you can use water, which will temporarily help.

If the coolant level is fine, check for leaks in the cooling system. A leak can cause the coolant level to drop, which will cause the engine to overheat. If you see a small leak, you can temporarily patch it  with a radiator stop leak product.

If your car is still overheating, or if you can’t find the leak, contact a Scott’s Auto location today. Do not try to drive the car if it is still overheating — this will only cause further damage.

Prevention

Here are a few additional tips to help prevent your car from overheating:

• Check the coolant level regularly and add coolant as needed.
• Look for leaks in the cooling system and repair them as soon as possible.
• Have your car’s cooling system serviced by a qualified mechanic at least once a year.
• Plan your trips so that you can take breaks frequently to allow the car to cool down.
• On hot days, drive at a lower speed to reduce the amount of work the car’s engine has to do.

Stay Cool with Scott’s Auto

No one wants their car to overheat, but it can happen to even the most cautious drivers. If it does happen, don’t panic — just follow the steps in this guide and contact Scott’s Auto if you need. We’ll have you back on the road in no time! To find a location nearest you, click here.