The 3 Worst Things You Can Do When Your Car is Overheating

An overheating car could be caused by a variety of reasons.  It could be a broken radiator, a kinked radiator hose, a faulty thermostat, and maybe even a lack of coolant.  There are many more reasons as well.  No matter what the cause, if you are ever in a similar situation, there are three major things you should never do when your car is overheating.

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❶ Do Not Continue Driving

When you first notice that your vehicle is overheating, it is crucial to pull over and stop the car immediately.  An overheating car should never be driven.  This can be very dangerous.  Wait until your car is entirely cooled down before starting the engine again.

❷ Never Check the Radiator Fluid

Checking your fluid levels in your radiator when the car is overheating is simply asking for trouble.  It can be extremely dangerous.  There is a lot of pressure built up beneath the radiator cap.  Boiling hot fluids and steam can shoot out at high speeds, potentially burning and injuring anyone in its path.  Determine whether or not you are on an inline for accurate fluid readings.  If the car is not level, the fluids cannot be level.

❸ Never Use Cold Water on a Hot Engine

When a car’s engine has overheated, do not put cold water in the vehicle.  Not only can this damage the engine block and cause it to crack, it can lead to other severe auto damages and costly repairs.  Let a car cool down completely, as mentioned earlier, before tending to an overheated engine.

Here’s What To Do When Your Car Overheats:

➀ Pull Over Immediately
➁ Place Vehicle in Park
➂ Turn Off Engine
➃ Remove Keys from Ignition and Place in Pocket
➄ Walk Off a Busy Road
➅ Find a Safe Location to Wait for Help
➆ Contact 24 Hour Roadside Assistance

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Does Your Car Overheat on Road Trips?

If your car is prone to overheating on long trips, don’t let that hold you back any longer! Learn what options you have for taking road trips with an unpredictable car engine.

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There are many reasons why a car engine might overheat. Sometimes the coolant or motor oil runs out, while other times it’s more serious, like a radiator malfunction or broken cap seal. Regardless of why an engine overheats, the chief priorities are identifying the cause and finding a solution.

Fortunately, many overheating car engines are simply a result of minor issues, such as lack of fluids (i.e. coolant, motor oil, etc.). If this is the underlying cause of your overheating car engine, your best course of action would be to first load your trunk up with extra bottles of motor oil and radiator fluid (coolant).

Second, you need to start a routine car maintenance schedule to keep your vehicle operating safely and efficiently. Allowing your car to overheat frequently is not good for the engine. And last, you need to have a sufficient and modern-day roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. This can help you in a wide range of vehicular emergencies.

If Your Car Engine Begins to Overheat…

If your car engine begins to overheat, you need to immediately find a safe place to pull over. If you are on the interstate or highway, be sure to pull all the way over on the shoulder, and do not exit your vehicle on the traffic side. From there, you can try a few things to get your car to stop overheating. If it is not a simply fix, like refilling coolant, you need to contact a local Indianapolis towing company for 24 hour roadside assistance and tow truck service.

Here’s what you can try before calling a local tow truck:

Turn on all the heaters. This will extract the excess heat out of the engine. If this doesn’t work, you need to try other options to effectively cool off your vehicle if you want to have it driven to the nearest service shop.

Check your coolant levels. Safely exit the vehicle and check if you are out of coolant. If you are, refill with more radiator fluid. If you do not have radiator fluid, try adding one cup of water to your antifreeze.

Check the hose to the antifreeze. You should only remove the hose to the antifreeze if you know where it is under the hood. If you do, you can remove it and check it for blockages. Blow into the hose to loosen or eliminate any obstructions.

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Zore's Inc. 317-247-8484

Zore’s Inc. 317-247-8484

If nothing works, you need to have your vehicle towed to your choice of automotive service shop. Choose Zore’s Inc. for prompt and professional, 24 hour tow truck and roadside assistance. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, and we serve all of Indianapolis and Central Indiana. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate or information about our services, today.