What to Do If Your Car Overheats
Maybe you skipped a scheduled maintenance check. Or, maybe you’re just having some bad luck. But, when you notice the temperature heading higher than the halfway point on your dashboard indicator, it’s time to start thinking about what to do. These tactics may help:
Turn off your AC and turn on your heat. Doing both can help take some stress off your engine.
Pull over if it’s safe. If your temperature dial shoots up, or you start seeing water or steam coming from under the hood, call a tow truck. If you see smoke coming from the car, get out and move away if you’re able to do so safely.
Be careful when examining the engine. Take care when popping the hood, and don’t open the radiator cap when your car is overheating.
Add coolant or water only when the car is cool. You’ll have to wait a while, but adding coolant or water to a hot engine can do significant damage.
August 25, 2016