As the weather gets hotter and hotter, one thing that becomes increasingly problematic is engine overheating. This issue potentially damages your car, not to mention it’s just plain inconvenient when you have to take your vehicle in for an expensive repair bill. However, when emergency strikes and the engine overheats, you need to follow simple measures calmly to stay out of trouble. This blog lists down steps you can take when you’re left with an overheating car.
What Causes Cars to Overheat? –
An overheating car indicates months of neglect and a lack of proper maintenance. The engine is your car’s heart, and just like our bodies, it needs regular maintenance to function properly. If you don’t take care of the cooling system, the coolant levels are low; the engine will overheat.
Other causes include:
- A damaged radiator
- A broken water pump
- Thermostat failure
- Engine oil that has broken down and needs to be replaced
- Blocked airflow to the radiator
What Happens When an Engine Overheats?
If you have faulty engine components or have simply skipped service one too many times, your car’s cooling system takes one for the team & begins to spiral out of control. The overheating compromises essential fluids like the engine oil, and you could end up with a seized engine.
Driving an overheated engine potentially causes severe damage, such as a cracked cylinder head or blown gasket. These problems are expensive to repair, and in some cases, the damage may be so severe that the car is not worth fixing.
How Do I Know if My Engine Is Overheating?
There are a few warning signs that can indicate your engine is overheating:
- The temperature gauge on your dash is in the red zone
- You see steam or coolant coming from under the hood
- Your engine starts making strange noises
- The check engine light comes on
What to do When An Engine Overheats?
Pull over and halt the car for a while when you notice the abovementioned signs. Let your ride cool down for at least 30 minutes before checking the coolant level and adding more if necessary. If you don’t have any coolant, use water but be sure to visit a mechanic so they can flush the system and replace the coolant.
If your car overheats frequently, it’s time to take it to a mechanic for a check-up.
Engine overheating is serious business, and if not dealt with promptly, engine damage may occur. If you think your engine is overheating, pull over and call a tow truck or roadside assistance immediately. Do not attempt to drive the car any further.
Engine overheating is a problem that can easily be remedied by following some simple steps. Here at Mike Patton Ford Lincoln, serving Greenville, GA, we want to help you avoid car problems using our quality car service and repair. We urge you to schedule a service with us as soon as possible. We’ll take care of everything and make sure your engine is running cool all summer long.
Don’t wait until the last minute – call or visit us today!
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