Overheated Engine Procedure: What to Do When Driving

By Ethan Melandri

To tell if your engine is overheating there are a few warning signs that your car has. The first is the water temperature gauge. When this gauge begins to increase in temperature going towards the red zone it means your car is too hot. This is then followed by the second system, which is the warning light somewhere on your dash. You may even be seeing steam coming from the bonnet at this point. At any time when you see these warning signs it is imperative that you stop the car. Your vehicle can be severely damaged by an overheated engine to the point that repairs are costly.

If your vehicle is overheating you need to pull off the street and turn the vehicle off immediately. You do not want to continue to a mechanic garage or station as this will result in irreparable damage to the engine. The cylinder head when it gets too hot will warp or crack, thus replacement is needed in that situation.

As soon as you are off the street you need to turn your hazard lights on for the other drivers around you. If there is no fire coming from under the bonnet you can open it in order to get more air to the engine, helping it cool off. You should never touch the engine as it can burn you.

It can take several minutes or hours for the engine to cool. If you have an overheated engine during the night you will want to keep your sidelights running, to help other drivers see your car. You can also turn on the headlights to help you see what you are doing.

After the engine has decreased in temperature the first thing to check is the coolant. This is usually the first fluid to be low when your car overheats. By adding water to the radiator you are able to give it fluid. The water should not be too cold as it can crack the container the fluid is held in. Water is not the typical fluid to use, but in an emergency it works fine. The water will dilute the coolant called antifreeze. You will need to have the system flushed by a mechanic before winter to avoid freezing the coolant.

The filler cap on the coolant can still be extremely hot even after the engine has cooled down. Underneath the cap is pressure which will cause steam to rise when it is released. This could burn your hand. It is imperative to make sure the radiator is cool to the touch, as well as to use a rag to cover your hand when you open the filler cap.

Stand a way from the engine when you are filling it with water so that you will not be splashed by the warmer liquid. You will also need to stop frequently to check the fluid levels as there is a minimum and maximum line to fill to. Once you have filled the reservoir you can check the engine temperature gauge. If it is back to normal you may proceed on your drive.

Remember that whilst your car is safe to drive again, there is an underlying problem that caused the overheating, so avoid a long journey and take it to a suitable garage to be checked out as soon as possible. However, if the engine overheats again, shortly after you have set off, you need to pull over and call a roadside recovery service as you have a serious problem that will require the services of a garage to fix it. - 21396

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When packing for a motoring holiday it is also a good idea to pack some spare Car Bulbs as well, just in case a bulb does blow during the holiday, as finding a replacement abroad can prove difficult. It is also a good idea to install long life Headlight Bulbs before setting off, as this will reduce the possibility of a bulb failure even further.