What To Do If The Car Engine Overheats?
- Steam (or white smoke) appears from the front bonnet of the car.
- The engine temperature gauge needle on the dashboard of the car rises to "H" or enters the red zone. For some other cars, the engine temperature warning light comes on – refer to the car's manual to be sure.
- A burnt smell or strange smell comes from the engine, leaking coolant usually smells sweet while leaking engine oil usually smells burnt or burnt.
Things You Should Do and Should Avoid If the Car Overheats.
If you are in a traffic jam and notice white smoke or steam coming from the front bonnet of your car – stay calm. Take precautions and practice the following:
1. Don't Panic
If you are faced with a situation where the temperature of the car rises suddenly while driving, stay calm and don't panic. Slow down and immediately move carefully towards the shoulder of the road. In such a panic situation, there are some drivers who start pressing the brakes suddenly after finding the car starts to smoke. Such actions are extremely dangerous and can increase the risk of a more serious accident. So, stay calm.
2. Don't Continue Driving, Find a Safe Location to Stop
If the engine temperature warning light comes on or the car's temperature gauge needle is in the red zone, do not continue driving and immediately stop on the shoulder of the road. Continuing to drive while the car's engine overheats can cause more serious (and more expensive) damage to your engine.
- Immediately turn off the car 's air conditioner to reduce the pressure on the engine. A car air conditioner that is left running while the car overheats can increase the load on the engine.
- If safe, open the front bonnet of the car to allow better heat flow and help the heat dissipate faster.
- Let the car engine cool for at least 15 minutes. After the engine cools down, check the car's temperature gauge to see if it returns to normal or not.
3. Don't Open the hood Immediately
After stopping, wait for the car engine to cool down first before opening the bonnet to check your engine. This is because the act of opening the front bonnet immediately while the engine temperature is still hot can increase the risk of burns or injury due to steam or smoke. Wait until the temperature gauge drops before opening the front bonnet.
4. Don't Let the Issue Last
In general, a damaged car engine needs to be repaired immediately because it can get worse if left alone. After the engine is cold, try to start the car engine. If the car engine sounds but the car cannot start , ask for the help of a tow truck to tow your car to a nearby workshop for further inspection. But if it does turn on, drive your car with caution and always keep an eye on the temperature gauge while driving. If the car temperature rises again, immediately stop and let it cool down.
A complete car engine diagnosis can help identify the cause of the car's temperature rise. In addition, it can also help you get the best solution to the issue that occurs. If the car overheats , you can also check as follows:
- Identify any signs of leaks or damage that may have occurred. Dry coolant can cause the car engine to overheat .
- Check and add coolant if necessary. Most of the causes of car overheating occur due to insufficient car coolant.
Always remember to check your vehicle condition occasionally to ensure a smooth driving experience while on the road. Pilihcar also would like to remind you that we provide RoadTax renewal services as well as insurance coverage for personal, travel and vehicle. Find out more on our website at www.PilihCAR.com.
