What to do if Your Car is Overheating

Posted on by TheSph3r3

Driving in the hot summer weather makes your car more susceptible to overheating. While you cannot avoid driving in the summer, it is important to know what to do in case your car starts to overheat. Follow these tips this summer if your notice your car is starting to overheat.

  1. Pull over. As soon as you see your temperature gauge start to move to the hot side, pull over as soon as you can. If you notice smoke coming from the hood, stop immediately.
  2. Open the hood. Opening the hood of your vehicle will allow all of the heat to disperse faster than if you keep the hood closed.
  3. Wait for the radiator cap to cool. Opening the radiator cap while it is hot can lead to steam and extremely hot radiator fluid causing severe burns.
  4. Check the reservoir tank. Check to see if there is the proper amount of coolant in your car. If you need to add more, only add enough to fill it up to the highest mark. While it is best to add coolant, you can add water if you do not have any coolant.
  5. Look for leaks. Check the core plugs in the engine block, and radiator for any signs of leakage. If you are unsure what to look for, make sure to take your vehicle to a mechanic.
  6. Determine if the car is safe to drive. If the cause of the overheating was just because the coolant was low, as soon as you add more, you can drive your car. If there was no coolant, do not drive the car since you can easily cause severe damage to the vehicle.

Most importantly, make sure you have the proper auto insurance from All Nevada Insurance to protect you and your vehicle from any situation.