Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Dealing with an overheated engine
• Method 2 of 3: Driving an overheated engine
• Method 3 of 3: Prevent overheating
• Tips
• Warnings

In fact, anyone with a driver's license should know how to cool an overheated engine. By analyzing and solving the problem you can get back on the road quickly and it saves a lot of money. And if you do have to go to the garage, you can better explain what the problem is.

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Method 1 of 3: Dealing with an overheated engine

1. Don't panic and get to the side of the road as soon as possible. Overheating is a serious problem, but don't panic.If the temperature gauge is in the red or if you see steam coming out of the engine, you should slow down and move to the side when it is safe to do so. The white fumes from under the hood are not clouds of smoke, but steam generated by an overheated engine. You still have some time to pull over. If there is no opportunity to quit, do the following:
   • Turn off your air conditioner and open the windows.
   • Set the heating to its hottest setting and the blower to its highest setting - this way you extract heat from the engine.
   • Turn on the hazard lights and drive slowly and steadily until you can stop.
2. Open your hood when no more steam is coming from underneath. If the hood is not too hot, turn off the engine and open your hood. If the hood is too hot to touch, or if you can still see steam, wait for the hood to cool sufficiently before opening it. By opening the hood, the engine can release more heat to the outside air.
   • Turn off the engine, but leave the ignition on. Your lights and dashboard are still on. That way, the fan keeps running with the engine off, speeding up the cooling process.
   • Allow the engine to cool completely before touching the engine or opening the radiator cap. It can take up to 30-45 minutes for everything to cool sufficiently, but this will prevent burns.
3. Check the radiator hose at the top. By squeezing the radiator hose you can feel if the system is still under pressure, and therefore if it is safe to remove the radiator cap. If the hose feels firm and is difficult to squeeze, there is still a lot of pressure on the system. Do not remove the cap just yet. If the hose is easy to squeeze, you can probably safely remove the radiator cap.
   • Squeeze the hose with a cloth or towel as the hose can also be very hot.
4. Leave the cap on the radiator until the system cools down. The steam in the radiator can blow a dangerous jet of high-pressure liquid into your face. So leave the cap on for as long as possible. If it's too hot to touch, let it sit.
   • The coolant of an overheated engine can reach a temperature of 130 degrees Celsius. As long as the system is closed, it will not boil. But if exposed to the air, it can suddenly boil, causing severe burns. So wait until the system has cooled down.
5. Turn the radiator cap. Gently tighten the radiator cap with a thick towel or rag. Loosening exposes the fluid in the radiator and expansion tank to the outside air. If there is no thread on your cap, push the cap down after twisting the cap and you will unlock the safety lock. This way you can remove the cap completely.
6. When the engine has cooled sufficiently, check the coolant reservoir. This usually takes about 30-45 minutes. The reservoir is white plastic and it is connected to the radiator cap. There are markings on the side showing how much liquid should be present.
7. Check the engine for leaks. The most common cause of an overheated engine is a leak in the cooling system. Check for fluid on the engine or under the car, especially if the reservoir level is too low. On the other hand, cooling systems do need pressure to function, so even a small leak can cause problems.
   • Coolant smells sweet and a leak can usually be seen on hoses, under the car, or on / around the radiator cap. It has the consistency of water, so it is thinner than oil.
   • Coolant for older cars is usually green, but the color may vary depending on the make and model of your car.
8. Add coolant when the car has cooled down. If you have coolant, add it when the car has cooled down, after about 30-45 minutes. Unscrew the radiator cap and pour in a little coolant, no more than a few seconds. If you have water, mix and add equal parts coolant and water - most engines are designed to work with a mixture of 50% coolant and 50% water.
   • In an emergency, you can completely replace coolant with water, although you shouldn't use it for too long.
9. After it has cooled, start the car and check the temperature gauge. Does it go into the red again? If so, turn the car off and wait another 10 to 15 minutes before driving off. If the meter is not in the red, you can start driving again until you see a garage.
10. Call the roadside assistance if the problem cannot be solved, or if larger problems arise. If there is a leak in the cooling system, if oil leaks out, or if the engine will not cool down, call the roadside assistance immediately. Overheating can cause irreparable damage to the engine if you're not careful.
    • If you do have to drive, make sure to let the car cool down as much as possible before starting it again.

Method 2 of 3: Driving an overheated engine

1. Keep driving when the temperature gauge has dropped again. If possible, don't drive too long. That said, sometimes you have no choice but to keep driving to seek help.
   • If the car does not overheat again, it may have been a one-time problem caused by many different factors (air conditioning on, hot day, traffic jam). Still, you should keep a close eye on the temperature gauge to avoid even more problems.
   • Most cars are set up to indicate overheating before the engine has sustained serious damage, so you have time to correct the problem. However, that does not mean that you no longer have to keep an eye on the meter.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Air conditioning cools the car on engine power, and you don't want to strain your engine more than it can handle. Open the windows to get it cooler.
3. Set the heating to the highest setting. This may sound contradictory, but the car's heating works by drawing heat from the engine and blowing it into the car. So if you set the fans and the temperature to the highest setting, you cool the car by sucking hot air from the engine. But it probably won't feel very comfortable.
   • Turn the fans in the direction of your windows so that it does not get too hot in the car.
   • You can also set the heater to defrost so that the heat doesn't blow in your direction.
4. Put the car in neutral and accelerate. Let the engine idle at 2000 rpm. Then the engine and fan speed up, allowing more cool air and coolant to reach the engine, cooling the car. If you are in a traffic jam, this can be a good way to keep the engine moving while the car is stationary.
5. When you run out of coolant, add water to the radiator. While you shouldn't do this on long journeys, you can cool your engine with water in an emergency. As soon as the engine has cooled down, put warm water in the radiator. Cold water can cause a crack in the engine block due to the sudden change in temperature.
6. Drive short distances, turn off the car and repeat if you have to keep driving. If you really have no choice but to keep driving with an overheated engine, keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Whenever the gauge goes into the red, stop the car and wait 10 to 20 minutes for it to cool. This is not ideal for your motorcycle, but it is better than driving all the time and breaking your motorcycle.
7. Know that if your car continues to overheat, you will likely need to go to the garage. If your car keeps overheating, has a leak, or won't start, you need to go to the garage. Even if these tips can help you out the moment the car has overheated, you should have your car checked as there is probably a bigger problem that needs to be resolved before you mess up your engine.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent overheating

1. Drive slowly but steadily instead of constantly accelerating and braking in a traffic jam. Stopping and starting puts a lot more strain on your engine and can overheat, especially if the car is a bit older. Don't brake too much and let your car roll gently, knowing that you will probably have to stop again when you get to the bumper of the car in front of you.
   • Make it a habit to check your temperature gauge at a red traffic light or stop sign.
2. Use your windows instead of the air conditioning. The air conditioner uses the engine to cool the air in your car, putting extra strain on it. The first thing to do if your car is overheating is to turn off the air conditioning, but you should not use it at all if you are concerned that your car will overheat.
   • If you have not had the air conditioning checked for a long time, have a leak in your radiator, have problems with your air conditioning, or have too little coolant, it is better not to use the air conditioning at all.
3. Change your oil regularly, and then have your cooling fan checked immediately. Old oil can cause your engine to overheat, especially if you also have too little coolant or other problems. If you're getting your oil changed, ask the garage to check your fan right away - pinpointing problems early can save a costly repair later.
   • You should always hear your fan running after you turn off the car, because it is still cooling the engine.
4. Top up your coolant at the beginning of the summer. Check the reservoir and make sure the coolant level is correct, ie between the two marks on the side of the reservoir. If the level is on the low side, mix equal parts water and coolant and fill the reservoir to the recommended level.
   • When checking the level, take a few minutes to check for leaks. Coolant is usually green and smells sweet. Check under the vehicle, around the engine, and for visible radiator hoses and parts.
5. Always have some emergency tools in the car in case the engine overheats. It can be very annoying if you end up on the side of the road with an unusable engine. If you always have some emergency items with you, it could mean you can still drive to a garage. Such a safe idea. Bring the following items:
   • Extra coolant
   • A few liters of water
   • Tools
   • A flashlight
   • Emergency food that does not decay
   • A blanket
   • A straight razor
   • Duct tape
   • Phillips screwdrivers and flat screwdrivers

Tips

• You can keep driving with a hot engine if you have no other choice. In this case, drive slowly until the gauge goes into the red, then stop and let the engine cool down until you can start the engine again. This way you can end up in a safe place.

Warnings

• Opening a radiator cap while the engine is still hot can cause serious injury because of high pressure.