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How to Cool an Overheated Engine
Engine
overheating is a symptom of another
problem--usually low coolant level caused by a
leak, a thermostat that's stuck closed, an
inoperative cooling fan or a clogged radiator.
The most important thing is to turn off the car
before the overheating does any damage.
Overall
Things You'll Need
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Rag
-
Patience
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Funnel
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Coolant
Steps:
-
Put on your turn signals and/or flashers
to indicate you are pulling off the
road.
-
Turn both the heater setting and the
heater blower to high to divert heat
from the engine. This may help, but only
if the problem is a broken fan or fan
belt (it's always worth a try).
-
Pull over and find a safe place to park
on the side of the road.
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Turn off the engine.
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Open the hood.
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Check the coolant level by looking at
the coolant reservoir, a plastic tank.
(Do not open the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. The radiator is under
pressure, and hot coolant could
seriously burn you.) On some German cars
the plastic coolant tank is
pressurized--wait for the engine to cool
before opening the tank to add coolant.
This may take up to 20 minutes.
-
Use a funnel to add coolant to the
reservoir if the level is below the low
line. Always wait for the engine to cool
down before opening the radiator cap.
When everything is full, visit your
mechanic right away to find and repair
the leak.
-
If a low coolant level is not the
problem, you have a more complicated
cooling system problem and should call a
tow truck.
-
If this is the case, wait for the engine
to cool down, then drive to a phone or a
garage. Check the temperature gauge as
you drive to make sure it isn't going
into the red. If the gauge starts to
rise again, pull over, turn off the
engine, and wait for it to cool again.
Overall
Tips & Warnings
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Regular maintenance reduces the
possibility of overheating. Change the
coolant every autumn, periodically check
the belts and hoses, and bring your car
to a mechanic to check for leaks if the
coolant level is consistently low.
-
Coolant is a mixture of 1/2 antifreeze
and 1/2 water, but in a pinch it's OK to
add just one or the other.
-
Never let the needle on your dashboard's
temperature gauge go into the red. Don't
wait for the next exit if you see the
needle approaching the red zone; pull
over and turn off the...
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