If your car is getting overheated quite often then that indicates the cooling system in the car’s engine is not working properly. This can have a disastrous consequences on the engine of your car. As engine is mostly made with various kinds of metal and rubber materials, there is bound to be fiction created when the engine is running. As a result heat is produced in excess. These are called internal combustion engines. The most common indication of engine overheating is when engine starts emitting steam and the temperature gauge rises up to the hot territory.
In order to keep this extreme heat at bay, every engine has a radiator that keeps this balance in check when a car is in motion. These radiators often have a liquid that acts as a coolant by circulating throughout the engine. These coolants either come as water-based or as an oil. While circulating, they absorb the heat from the engine and then releases out the excess heat through the radiator.
So the main reason for the radiator to heat up is if the radiator has less liquid or water than it usually requires. But don’t worry! There are a few ways that you can adopt in order to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience, especially radiator overheating. These will include ways when you have to stop your car as well as when you have to keep driving.
When you have to Stop the Car
Following are the ways to follow when you have to stop your car at the time of engine overheating:
Pull over Immediately
The moment you realize that the temperature gauge is rising, immediately pull over to a safe place, switch off your engine and let it cool down. It’s important to keep an eye on the engine temperature gauge during hot days. This will help you in even avoiding the engine to overheat and start emitting steam.
Open the hood and let it cool
Right after you pull over, immediately pop open the hood of your heat in order to release extra heat. The possible wind will let the heat from the engine to disperse faster.
In case the engine is already emitting steam, be aware that some cars have the hood opening latch near to the radiator cap and there is a risk of getting burned if steam is coming from radiator cap.
Open the Radiator cap when cool enough
At the time when the radiator is at its high temperature and possibly emitting hot steam, it is advisable not to touch the radiator pressure cap. If you do so, there is a high chance that the high pressure combination of steam and radiator fluid can cause serious burns on you.
Regular check on the Coolant Reserve Tank
As a preemptive measure, you should always check the level of coolant remaining in the radiator. There are various ways through which you can judge the level. In some cars there is a marking present on the radiator that indicates the ideal level of coolant that should be present. Some modern cars have a plastic reservoir of coolant connected to the top of the radiator. This allows it to check the level of coolant easily.
If you have a reservoir in your car then you can add the liquid or water till the brim, while the engine is hot. But if your car does not have a reservoir, then it’s advisable not to add anything until the engine is cool enough.
When you have to Keep Driving
Following are some ways to consider when your car is overheating but you still have to keep driving:
Turn off Air Conditioning
Turning off the air conditioning in the cars cabin will reduce the load off the engine. This may help in lowering down the temperature much quicker.
Turn on the Heater and let it Steam off
After you have turned off the AC, it’s advisable to turn the climate control towards the heater. This may be comforting during the cold season but it can be a nuisance when it’s quite hot outside. In such situations, you can turn the air vents towards the open windows. This will allow maximum heat to escape outside.
This method may sound outrageous but it works. This is because when the heater in the cabin is on, it basically takes the excess heat from the engine to enter the cabin. Therefore, running the heater in such situation can help in reducing the temperature significantly.
Keep the Speed Steady
While the temperature of the engine is rising, it’s wise to keep the speed of your car slow and steady. This is important when you have to stop and go on a traffic light. Accelerating the car too quickly will allow more load on the engine, possibly causing it to overheat quickly.
Regular check and Caution is the Key
In order to full avoid overheating your engine in the further, it’s always better to be prepared for such situations. Remember to regularly check the level of coolant in the radiator and adopt cautionary measure when you notice the temperature of the gauge is rising.
