What to Do if Your Engine Overheats

If you overheat your engine, it’s important to act immediately. This issue is not something you can put off until later, or your engine could truly suffer, costing you thousands in the long run.

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If you overheat your engine, follow the steps below to keep your car working properly.

Turn off the air conditioner, turn on the heat.

• Even though the last thing you want on a hot August day is more heat, this trick could save your engine. Your air conditioner puts tremendous strain on your engine. Therefore, turning on the heat will actually transfer a good amount of heat away from the problem.

Pull over, let the engine cool.

• Pop the hood after the engine has cooled (roughly 30 minutes) to see what’s causing the issue. Multiple issues can cause your car to overheat such as a damaged fan or water pump, stuck thermostat, or bad radiator cap seal.

Figure out the problem.

• Once the engine has cooled, check the radiator to see if there is enough antifreeze. If the antifreeze is low, add more (make sure that the engine is completely cooled first). If that’s not the problem, check the area for leaks. You can do this by looking under the car to see if you can spot any liquid dripping from your car onto the ground. If the leak is small, adding antifreeze will work for a short amount of time, but fixing the leak is imperative.

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