What to Do if Your Car Overheats

No one wants to have a car that is overheating. With an overheating engine, you may encounter a small problem–or it may be a symptom of a much larger problem. Overheating cars are a problem that you can’t afford to ignore. If you are worried about your car, or you aren’t sure what to do if your car overheats, here is more information about steps you can take for an overheating engine. 

About Overheating

Engines are said to be “overheating” when the temperature of your car’s engine reaches 230 degrees. At that temperature, your car’s indicator light will come on. You might also notice other warning signs for an engine problem, such as steam coming out from under the hood, or a strange smell coming into your car’s cabin. 

What to Do

The good news is that damage to your car’s engine will not begin to occur until the engine reaches above 245 degrees. In order to avoid that, here are some things you can do. First, turn on the heater. That will allow the exhaust system to pull heat away from the engine, and direct it out. You also need to pull your car over as soon as possible, and turn the engine off. This will help to cool the engine. Wait for 15 minutes, and then add coolant. Do not try and remove your radiator cap without the aid of a towel or undershirt. If adding coolant does not seem to help, it’s time to call your service center to have your engine checked out. 

When you are ready to find out what is wrong with your overheating car, you need to come and see us at Car Care Connection. We’re located at 6503 Gateway Avenue in Gulf Gate. You can also give us a call with any questions by calling 941-924-6199.