What To Do If Your Engine Is Overheating

Nowadays, cars are being designed to a point where you shouldn’t need to worry about your engine overheating. However even a well-tuned car can overheat under certain circumstances. Overheating mostly occurs on hot days, when in ‘stop start traffic’ or on steep and hilly terrain. This guide explains what to do if your engine is overheating.

Take The Pressure Of Your Engine

Overheating is most common when your engine is performing a lot of work, especially in hot temperatures. If you are in traffic, slowly advance without accelerating quickly, and try to only move at a controlled speed. If you are climbing hilly terrain, consider lowering your speed, and coasting on downhills.

Turn Off the AC and Open The Windows

If you see a temperature warning on your dashboard, the first thing to do is turn off your air conditioning, and open the windows. Turning off your air conditioning reduced the power burden on your engine.

Vent the Air Out Of Your Engine

If your dashboard is still displaying a temperature warning light, then another possible option is to turn on your heater and fan to high (by fan, we mean the blowing strength of your climate control system.) Although this will make the car hot, venting excess heat from the engine can reduce engine heat.

Pull Over To The Shoulder Of The Road And Wait

The time-tested method for dealing with overheating – just wait for you engine to cool off! If your engine is still overheating after implementing the previous actions, pull over to the shoulder, pop your hood up, and wait for the temperature warning to disappear.

Engine overheating can be caused by mechanical issues too. Low coolant levels can contribute to overheating. You should never fill coolant while the car is hot, though, since the system can be under pressure and you might scald yourself. Wait for the engine to cool right down, then fill the cooling system with an appropriate amount of coolant / antifreeze. You could also just have a faulty thermostat, which you can get checked by a trusted mechanic.

We understand that your car plays an important part of your daily life, transporting you and your loved ones. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000.

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