How do you check if a car is overheating
If your car starts to overheat whilst you are on a journey, it can be a worrying sight to see warning lights flashing on your dashboard or steam emerging from underneath your bonnet. An engine which is overheating is a problem which needs to be dealt with immediately as it could cause permanent damage to your vehicle's engine. Read on to find out why engines overheat, what to do if this happens whilst you're driving and how to prevent engine overheating in the future.
What causes car overheating?
Modern car engines are designed to be hardwearing and durable but things can still go wrong. If the heat generated by the engine goes above the recommended or normal settings, the mechanical elements which are ordinarily cooled may start to break down or fail completely. There can be a number of reasons why this may happen.
1. Not enough coolant
Coolant, which is usually a mixture of water and anti-freeze, protects the engine in your vehicle from overheating. If you do not keep the coolant in your car at the correct levels, it will cause a failure of the coolant system, which, in turn, will lead to overheating. It is very important to keep a regular check on the coolant level in your car and keep it topped up to the manufacturer's recommended level. If you are not sure what the correct levels should be, always refer to the owner's manual for your vehicle.
2. A leak in the cooling system
If you check your coolant levels and find they are nearly or completely empty, this may be caused by a leak in the coolant system. This can be identified by an unusual puddle appearing underneath your car, which may be coloured orange, blue or green and it may also have an unusual, sweet smell. Coolant system leaks are most commonly caused by a leaking radiator hose or a leaking radiator and these problems should be remedied by a professional as soon as possible.
3. Issues with your car radiator
Almost all car radiators are assisted by one or more fans which help to cool the engine by decreasing the temperature of the coolant. If the fans are not working properly, the radiator will not be able to remove the excess heat and this can result in your vehicle overheating.
4. Problems with your water pump
The water pump is a vital element of your car's cooling system. Its main job is to keep the coolant circulating correctly through the engine. If the pump breaks or if the coolant contains a build-up of dirt and grime, the flow will become limited or stop altogether. This will invariably cause the engine to become overheated.
5. Failure of your car's thermostat
Your vehicle needs a correctly working thermostat to ensure that the engine does not get too hot. If your thermostat isn't working properly, the correct volume of coolant will not flow to the engine and, again, your vehicle will overheat.
What do you need to do if your car starts overheating?
If you're on the road and the temperature warning light comes on or you notice steam or strange smells coming from under the bonnet, there are a number of things you can do:
1. Pull over in a safe place and turn off your engine. Continuing to drive with the temperature warning lights flashing could cause serious damage to your car.
2. Open all the windows. This will help to pull the heat out of the car and aid in cooling.
3. Turn on the heater. This may seem like a strange idea, but turning on your car heaters can also help to remove heat from the engine. This is because the main cooling system also powers the heating.
4. Call for help. It is best in this situation to call your roadside assistance service so they can come and assess your vehicle.
It is also vitally important that you do NOT attempt to lift the bonnet of your vehicle if you suspect your car is overheating. If your car has been running for a long time, the coolant may have reached a very high temperature which could be extremely dangerous. In our experience, it is best to wait for 30 minutes or longer for the engine to cool naturally before you open the bonnet of your car. NEVER attempt to remove the radiator or coolant reservoir caps whilst the system is hot, as serious injury could result.
Our top tips to prevent your vehicle from overheating
There are a few things you can do to check car overheating issues and to pre-empt any problems:
Remember to check the coolant levels in your vehicle, especially before undertaking a long journey
Regularly check the temperature on the dashboard (if your vehicle displays this) whilst you're driving
Keep antifreeze and a bottle of water in your boot
If the weather is really hot, don't overuse the air conditioning in your car because this adds to the engine's workload
The most important thing you can do for your vehicle is to remember to get it serviced every year and always to visit a trusted garage, such as Protyre, if any problems occur. Our expert mechanics at our Protyre garages offer MOTs and three levels of car service: bronze, silver and gold. All our services include checking the levels of coolant in your vehicle and our gold service will also inspect your radiator for signs of leaks or damage. At Protyre, our tyre professionals can also fit many high-quality tyre brands such as Pirelli, Sumitomo and Bridgestone and offer you advice on all aspects of tyre fitting and maintenance.
Please get in touch with Protyre today, either via our website or by telephone. Your local garage will be pleased to assist you with any aspect of vehicle maintenance, servicing or tyre fitting.