Whether it’s a leak in the cooling system, a faulty radiator fan, or a broken water pump, etc. it’s common for car engines to overheat, and for many different reasons than the ones we’ve mentioned. Regardless of the reason, this isn’t an issue you’d want to delay solving, as that could lead to some serious damage. Though, it isn’t something to panic about too much, either. There are a few signs you need to look out for that indicate an overheated engine, and steps you can take to bring it back to normal. We’re going to discuss all of that in this blog.
Signs When a Car Engine Overheats
- Steam emerges from under your car’s hood, which can look like smoke.
- Your engine’s temperature gauge spikes to “H” (or whatever the H equivalent is on the gauge in your car).
- A strange smell from the engine, e.g. sweet smell of leaked coolant or burnt smell of leaked oil.
When you notice any of these signals, you need to take some measures to ensure your car’s engine goes back to normal. Don’t ignore these signs, as they may end up causing you trouble as you keep driving. And if you need professional help to get your car checked, Toyota Creek Motors is always here to help out.
Things You Should Do When Your Car Engine Overheats
1. Switch off the Car AC
When you notice any signs of engine overheating, switch off your car’s AC immediately, then turn it to maximum heat; this will help pull heat away from the engine, reducing its stress and keeping it from overheating further until you can pull over. This may result in discomfort for you, but that’s a better alternative than having to pay huge expenses on engine repairs.
2. Pull-Over in a Safe Space
The next step would be to look for an empty, safe space to pull your car over and come up with a plan to get it checked by a professional. Keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge to go back to normal, indicating the engine is cooling, and call a professional for help.
3. Add Coolant to Your Car
One big problem that can cause your car engine to overheat is a lack of coolant in the system, so when you pull over, you can add some coolant to the vehicle (if accessible) to solve the problem. However, this won’t help if the coolant hose is clogged or the problem is being caused by a broken radiator/water pump.
4. Start the Engine Again
If your car doesn’t need any professional help and seems to have cooled off, try restarting it and drive to the nearest automobile repair shop to get it properly checked. This will ensure you don’t face trouble again on the road.
What Not to do when your Car Engine Overheats
1. Don’t Keep Driving
If you’ve noticed that your engine is overheating, yet you keep driving, you won’t be helping the engine out by much, even if your destination is close by. Because you may reach where you wanted to go, but you may also have ended up pushing your engine too far, and it may give out entirely when you want to restart your car later.
2. Don’t Open the Hood Immediately
If you’re planning to check the engine yourself, let it cool a little before popping the hood up; doing so immediately can put you at risk of injuries and burns or spewing smoke or steam. Look for where your temperature gauge’s at, and once it’s in a comfortable direction indicating enough cooling, pop the hood up then.
3. Don’t Panic
One thing you definitely can’t do is panic. Your engine may be overheating, that doesn’t mean you can’t be cool about it. Even if you’ve to travel somewhere fast, you should remind yourself that this is a solvable problem, and if you panic you may end up damaging your and your car’s condition instead of finding a productive solution.
4. Don’t Delay Engine Servicing
After pulling the car over and adding coolant or having it checked by a professional at that moment, you may have temporarily solved the problem of your overheated car engine, but that doesn’t mean it’s permanently solved. If you leave this issue as it is, you may end up causing more damage in the long run. Hence, you need to get your car’s engine serviced immediately, at least by the next day, to ensure no long-term damage is being caused to your car.
If you need assistance in this regard, the professionals at Toyota Creek Motors are here to provide a helping hand.
The best way to prevent your car’s engine from overheating is to have it serviced regularly, with a coolant flush and exchange performed on the vehicle. Moreover, getting all the necessary maintenance done on the car can also ensure it stays in top shape and doesn’t cause any problems or inconvenience to you while you’re on the road. For more information on this and other topics, visit Toyota Creek Motors.
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