There are a lot of reasons why engines overheat. In general, it might be caused by having a worked up engine. Another probable reason would be a defective cooling system. Whatever the reason is, your engine might be the last car part that you would ever want get damaged.
Aside from the fact that your heart really goes on a leap when you start to smell something getting burned and smoke coming off from your hood, overheating engines could also damage other car parts. Just think of the nearest car parts to your engine and start calculating how many bucks it will cost you to repair all of them. Just the thought of it would make you want to list down the preventive measures you could use to keep your engine from overheating.
Let us start with these tips.
1. Always be prepared. If you’re going for long drives, always store at least one gallon of coolant and water in your compartment. These are basic things that you should not miss just in case your engine overheats in the road.
2. Monitor you temperature gauge. You also need to give time in checking your coolant temperature gauge. You need to pullover as soon as your gauge reaches “H”. Pullover on the safe side of the road and let your engine cool down. If you see smoke coming from off from the hood, hit the hazard lights and pullover immediately. Shut of your car and open the hood to make the cooling down faster. Turn off your A/C and put your blower fan on high.
3. Wait for it to cool down. Never open your radiator cap until you’re sure that your engine has cooled down. A lot of pressure could be on the radiator cap and opening it too soon can get your hands burned.
4. Look for leaks. Check is there is coolant leaking from the engine area or radiator hoses. After that, check your coolant tank and see how much of it is left. If you think you have to resupply, top off coolant reservoir with additional coolant or water.
5. Evaluate your car. If it is necessary for you to continue driving and you think that your engine is not that damaged, give your car at least 20-30 minutes to cool down before hitting the road. When caught in traffic, always put the car in neutral mode and try to increase air and coolant flow. In mild overheating, speed up decently at 40-50 MPH to create good airflow that will help cool the engine.
Here are some tips that you could put into mind to prevent engine overheating and to handle it without panicking. If you are unsure about your car status and the severity of your engine damage, you may always consult your trusted automotive shop after. Nevertheless, if you could master these tips then engine overheating must come in handy.