How to Cool an Overheating Engine
With the hot summer weather in full swing, your vehicle could be at risk of overheating. Most of our A/Cs are on full blast anytime we're in the car and that can place increased stress on your engine. Over time, this can cause the engine to overheat, even if you keep up with regular maintenance. With that in mind, it's important to know how to cool an overheating engine, so you can remain safe if your engine does overheat. Here are the steps you should follow:
If you see this needle rising and getting closer to the red, be sure to follow the steps below to ensure you and your vehicle remain safe.[/caption]
This article was published in 2019 and has been updated.
1) Turn OFF your A/C
If the temperature gauge on your vehicle increases, turn the A/C off and open your windows. Your vehicle's air conditioner's compressor runs off the engine. The extra workload caused by the A/C being on could cause your engine to run hotter. If you find that running your air conditioner consistently raises your engine’s temperature, bring your car in for service. There may be deeper mechanical issues that need to be repaired. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="185"] If you see this needle rising and getting closer to the red, be sure to follow the steps below to ensure you and your vehicle remain safe.[/caption]
2. Turn ON the Heater & Blowers
Once you've turned your vehicle's A/C off, turn on the heat along with its blowers. While this may not be comfortable, it will help the engine decrease its temperature. The heater draws heat from the engine— turning it on will pull heat into the cabin and transfer heat away from the engine.3. Stuck in traffic?
Sometimes, the engine’s temperature may climb when you're stuck idling in traffic. If you're caught in a traffic jam with a hot engine, it's best to keep your car in neutral and rev the engine slightly. This will make the water pump and radiator fan speed up, which will aid in cooling the engine. It is also best to avoid riding the brakes. Brake drag can increase the load on your vehicle's engine. As traffic slowly moves forward keep a larger gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you so you do not have to ride the brakes. This will help to keep the brakes and engine from building extra heat.Still not working?
If the steps above do not help cool your engine down, you may have a larger problem. If you notice the engine temperature climbs out of control, it is important that you immediately pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and open the hood to let the heat out of the engine bay. Under no circumstances should you try to work on the engine or open the radiator. The water and coolant mix in the radiator is pressurized when it’s hot. If you were to open the cap it could cause hot coolant to spray out causing major burns.Cool An Overheating Engine With V&F Auto
Your vehicle's engine can overheat for a number of different reasons. If this happens, it's always best to bring your car to an expert mechanic to ensure the overheating is not caused by a more serious problem. At V&F Auto, our family-owned and operated service center provides top-quality auto repair services to Agawam, Feeding Hills, Southwick, West Springfield, and the surrounding Massachusetts communities. If your engine is overheating, call us at (413)314-2280 or schedule an appointment online.
This article was published in 2019 and has been updated.