Stop, Cool down, and Wait: Taking Care of the Overheated Engine

As your temperature gauge rises higher than normal, going closer to the red zone, you are given the first indicator that your engine is overheating. The second indication is the warning light your vehicle has to tell you the car is running hot. This light is typically found on the dashboard, and you may see steam rising from the bonnet. When any of these signs appear you need to stop driving the vehicle. To continue driving is asking for brutal and costly injury to the engine.

If your vehicle is overheating you need to pull off the street and turn the vehicle off immediately. You do not want to continue to a mechanic garage or station as this will result in irreparable damage to the engine. The cylinder head when it gets too hot will warp or crack, thus replacement is needed in that situation.

Once safely parked on the side of the road, switch on your hazard lights to warn any following drivers of your problem. Providing that there is no fire present you can open the bonnet, to give the engine a chance to cool down, however do not be tempted to touch any of the engine parts at this point, as it is very likely that you will be burnt.

Be prepared that it may take quite some time for the engine to cool down sufficiently so be ready for a long wait. If your vehicle has overheated when it is dark, switch on your sidelight bulbs to improve the visibility of your vehicle to other road users and consider turning on your headlight bulbs to help you see what your are doing.

After the engine has cooled you will need to check the coolant. The coolant can be found in the radiator and the fluid reservoir. If there is a lower level of coolant in the container you can add water to it in an emergency. Adding water to the coolant will dilute it, which means it can freeze in the winter. This is because antifreeze properties exist in the coolant. You will need a professional mechanic to flush the system and repair the diluted fluid before winter.

The cap to the coolant filler can be very hot even after the car has cooled down. Steam tends to be trapped inside which will rise, burning your hand. It is best to wait until the outside of the radiator is cool to the touch before opening the cap. You can also use a rag to remove the cap.

Stand a way from the engine when you are filling it with water so that you will not be splashed by the warmer liquid. You will also need to stop frequently to check the fluid levels as there is a minimum and maximum line to fill to. Once you have filled the reservoir you can check the engine temperature gauge. If it is back to normal you may proceed on your drive.

It is safe to drive if the coolant was the issue; however there could be another issue which has caused the engine to overheat. You will want to avoid long trips until you can get the car into the garage. If the engine gets hot shortly after you begin to drive again, pull over and call for roadside recovery to tow your vehicle to a garage.

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