Things can get out of control quickly if you don’t know what to do when your vehicle’s temperature rises.
Many
modern automobiles are so refined that you can hardly hear their
engines anymore, but don’t be lulled into complacency—there’s still a
combustion cycle taking place under the hood, and catastrophic
overheating remains a remote possibility. That’s why you should
periodically check your vehicle’s temperature gauge while driving. Every
gauge has a normal stopping point once the engine is warmed up; it’s
usually a bit below the midpoint line between cold and hot. It’s
probably not a doomsday scenario for your engine if your gauge ever
reads anywhere above normal, but it could easily become one if you don’t
take prompt action. Here are the steps you’ll need to know.
Step 1: Check for steam
The one surefire indication that you’ve really got an overheating engine
is that old B-movie standby: plumes of steam pouring out before your
eyes. Except it likely won’t be that dramatic, so take a closer look. If
you see any steam at all, proceed to Step 3 posthaste lest you meet the
same fiery demise as many a B-movie villain. Steam is bad. Take it
seriously.
Step 2: Turn off your A/C, Turn on your heater
If you’re the cautious type, skip directly to Step 3—but bear in mind
that older engines in particular are prone to mild overheating on hot
days, especially when the air conditioner has been running. There’s
nothing out of the ordinary in this case; you just need to give your
engine a breather. So if you don’t see any steam, you can turn off the
A/C and see if that calms things down. If it doesn’t, put your heater on
full-blast, which will transfer heat away from the engine. Of course,
it will also transfer heat toward you, but your comfort is a lesser
priority than the engine’s at this point. If these measures don’t work
in short order, then you’ve definitely got a problem, and you need to
stop driving and figure it out.
Step 3: Pull over and turn off your engine
When you find a safe place to stop, get there and kill the engine immediately. Do not idle
the engine while you’re collecting your thoughts. Engines have to work
harder to keep cool at idle than at cruising speed, and the last thing
you want to do is add stress to a potentially overheating engine. So
turn it off, and then take that breath. NOTE: If you are not a
do-it-yourselfer, and you believe your engine is suffering from more
than just temporary overload, now is the time to call for roadside
assistance. The remaining steps will require you to get your hands
dirty.
Step 4: Pop the hood
WARNING: Very likely it’s hotter than usual under there. You’ll get a
feel for this once you’ve pulled the hood release and the hood is
slightly ajar. If the heat strikes you as potentially dangerous—as it
may well be—then let the engine cool down before proceeding. Only open
the hood fully when you are confident that it’s safe to do so.
Step 5: Check coolant levels
Your engine should have a coolant reservoir in the vicinity of the
radiator (see your owner’s manual for the exact location). This is
usually made of plastic and thus unlikely to be dangerously hot. Check
the coolant level in this reservoir. If it’s normal, you’re in
luck—chances are you’ve just got a malfunctioning temperature gauge. As
long as there are no other signs of overheating, you can restart the
engine and proceed with caution. If it’s low or empty, however, there’s
probably a coolant leak somewhere. Calling for roadside assistance is
strongly advised here, though the more mechanically inclined might first
inspect the radiator hoses for loose clamps and such.
Things can get out of control quickly if you don’t know what to do when your vehicle’s temperature rises.
Step 6: If you need to keep driving…
Wait until you’re certain that the engine is cool, protect your
hand with a thick glove or rag, and twist off the radiator cap. Coolant
is normally visible just below where the cap sits (your owner’s manual
will have the details), but if your engine’s overheating, the coolant in
your radiator should be visibly depleted. Be sure to refill both the
radiator and the reservoir, using coolant or—if necessary—water. This
should bring the temperature down once you’re underway, but remember,
you’ve got a serious leak somewhere, so be vigilant. If the temperature
starts rising again, you’ll have to pull over and repeat the process.
Incidentally, by no means should you view this as a long-term
solution—your engine needs professional help, so get your mechanic on
the job as soon as you can.
Courtesy of CarCare.org
