The internal combustion engine responsible for powering your car generates a lot of heat. Through a combination of friction and the burning of gasoline, temperatures in the combustion chamber can reach over 2,000˚F. Without proper cooling, a car’s engine can overheat very quickly, leading to much more significant problems and damage. This situation demands a prompt and appropriate response if you want to avoid additional costly repairs.
(Barescar90 / pixabay)
The coolant system in your car works hard to keep the high temperatures generated by the engine from getting out of control. Thus, problems with this system can cause the temperature under the hood to climb rapidly. Some of the top causes of overheating include the following:
It is hard to miss the signs of an overheating engine. You may see the temperature gauge on your dashboard climb and warning lights turn on. You may notice a strange smell or smoke emerging from under your hood or out the tailpipe. These observations are all indications that your car is overheating, and you need to react immediately.
Find a safe place to pull over and turn your vehicle off. Continuing to drive a car that is overheating compounds the problem by generating more heat, damaging other car components. If it is not safe to pull over where you are, slow down so that you tax the engine less and look for a spot to stop.
Cars are more likely to overheat during the summer months when the weather is warm. Cold winter weather can actually help keep the engine cooler. If you have the air conditioning on, you will need to turn it off. Switch the climate controls to blow heat instead. It may be uncomfortable, but asking your car to blow hot air will provide another way to disperse the extra heat generated by the engine. Opening the windows can also be helpful. The more ventilation you can provide, the faster you will be able to get the engine cooled down to normal operating levels.
Once you are safely pulled over and have turned off the vehicle, resist the urge to lift the car’s hood. The extreme temperatures under your hood can heat up belts, hoses, and other nearby parts. Additionally, hot coolant flowing through the hoses under your hood can be very dangerous if the hoses burst.
The safest course of action is to sit back and allow the engine to cool naturally for a time. It may take 30 minutes or more. You can keep an eye on the engine temperature by checking the gauge on your dashboard. This gauge may not turn on unless you insert the key into the ignition and turn it to “on” or “accessories.” Briefly checking on the engine in this manner is ok, but do not start the engine.
If you are waiting for your car to cool in the desert of southern Utah, you could be waiting a long time. With temperatures well above 100˚F, waiting for your car to cool may not be an option. If you are not prepared for the heat, you should take this opportunity to call for help.
Getting your car examined at a Utah auto repair shop to address the problem so that your engine doesn’t overheat is essential. A car that is overheating is a serious problem. Driving with the engine running hot can boil your antifreeze, melt engine components, damage your exhaust, warp cylinder heads, or even blow a head gasket. It is much better to pull over and address the original problem than to try to push through it and cause more damage to your vehicle.
Schedule a zero-commitment appointment
to get the help you need, fast.
Engine failure, especially out of the blue, can be scary. It can put a wrench in your plans if driving somewhere important and depending on the problem, can be expensive to fix. Thankfully, there are lots of warning signs that can signal you when your engine is about to fail.
If you begin to notice some electrical problems in your vehicle, such as the dome light failing to turn on when you open the doors or the radio shutting off, you may need to check the fuses.
The outer tie rod ends are one of the more important parts of your vehicle’s steering system. While you may not choose to replace the outer tie rod ends yourself, it is good to be able to recognize what they are and see if they need replacing.
Have you noticed an increase in flat tires during the frigid winter months? There’s a reason for it. Keep reading for some simple explanations as to why tires seem to go flat when temperatures drop.
When your vehicle is functioning properly, it’s easy to forget how dangerous driving can be. However, it only takes a moment for an important component to malfunction. Suddenly your car has your full attention. One of the worst situations to find yourself in as a driver is to press the brake pedal only to realize that it is not working.
