Why Is My Car Overheating?

An overheating car engine is always a serious problem that you should never ignore. Your car might not explode or immediately break down if your temperature gauge starts creeping to the "hot" side, but you do run the risk of permanently damaging your vehicle's engine if you keep driving when this happens. If you notice that your temperature gauge is getting too high or that your air conditioner suddenly stops working, you're always better off pulling over and trying to fix the problem.

Why Your Engine Might Overheat

There are a few reasons why your car's engine might overheat when you're driving. It could be that your engine's water/antifreeze coolant mixture isn't circulating properly, or it could be that your coolant is leaking. Even if you don't have a leak, your coolant can evaporate over time, so you will want to have this checked frequently to make sure that this isn't happening. The hoses that circulate your coolant could also become detached and prevent it from circulating altogether. The problem could also be chalked up to another problem with your engine. These kinds of issues might not be immediately apparent to you, but a trained and licensed mechanic should be able to find the problem and fix it before it gets out of hand.

What To Do When Your Engine Overheats

If you find that your engine is overheating, pull your vehicle over as soon as possible and put it in neutral. Turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heater. This doesn't sound ideal on a hot summer day, but your air conditioner puts a lot of stress on your vehicle while your heater will remove some of the excess heat from your engine. Rev the engine a few times when you're in neutral to force the fan and the water pump to move more water through your radiator. You can also lift your car's hood to increase your circulation, but never remove your radiator cap while your vehicle is still hot. The coolant in your radiator is under tremendous pressure, and it can spray everywhere and cause severe burns if the cap is opened. Once your vehicle has cooled down enough to drive again, bring it somewhere safe and contact a local mechanic to determine why your car is overheating.

For more information about preventing your vehicle from overheating or to schedule a service appointment, contact Reliable Subaru today.