What to Do About an Overheating Car
If you’re worried about your car overheating, it’s important that you address the issue right away.
Your car could be overheating due to hot weather conditions, cooling system issues or serious engine problems.
A professional mechanic can inspect your vehicle and find the cause of the overheating for you.
What Should I Do If My Car Is Overheating?
If your car is overheating, you should do the following:
- Monitor the temperature gauge
- Pull over when it is safe to do so
- Check your car’s coolant levels
- Look for leaks
- Inspect the radiator and hoses
- Consult a professional mechanic
If your temperature gauge is unusually high whilst driving, then you should pull over to prevent serious engine damage. Exit the vehicle quickly and safely and get all passengers away from the car and road.
Turn off the engine and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before opening the bonnet – ideally from inside the cabin.
Do not remove the radiator cap or expansion tank cap, as this could cause severe steam burns.
Can I Add Anything to Cool My Engine Down?
You can check or add coolant once the engine has fully cooled down. However, if the tank is empty, then you may have run out or there could be a leak – you can check underneath your car for a puddle of liquid.
Top up the tank with coolant or warm water mixed with coolant if needed – but only add straight water as a last resort, especially if the radiator is hot.
Can I Drive an Overheating Vehicle?
No, you should pull over as soon as it is safe and let your vehicle cool down if it is overheating as you can cause serious damage by continuing to drive.
If you’re not sure what caused the issue or you suspect a problem, contact your recovery provider and get them to tow you to our garage in Littlehampton. We’ll provide a thorough analysis of the issue and a competitive quote to get you back on the road quickly.
How to Prevent Vehicle Overheating
In the future, you can prevent your vehicle from overheating by doing the following:
- Keeping your car cool in summer
- Monitoring the temperature gauge and coolant levels
- Keeping extra coolant in the car
- Opening windows and floor vents
- Having your coolant system flushed every 40,000 miles