It is the peak of summer and cars can sometimes overheat during such harsh conditions. This can not only hurt your car’s performance, but it can also cause permanent damage to the powertrain. Here are 5 things you must do when a car is overheating.
If you notice your car overheating, do not try to add more kilometres to your odometer. Instead, pull over the car to a safe location on the side of the road to avoid causing any permanent damage to your car’s powertrain.
Once you have parked your car on the side of the road, turn off your car’s engine and wait for the car to cool down. This will stop the car from incurring any damages due to high temperatures.
Once your car has cool down, open the bonnet and check the coolant levels. If you find the coolant level to be down on the coolant reservoir, fill it up. If you do not have spare coolant, you can use water to temporarily fill up the coolant reservoir.
It is also worth mentioning that, opening the radiator cap will lead to spraying of hot coolant, and this is likely to cause burn injuries. Also, avoid pouring cold water over the engine as this may cause cracks in the engine block.
If the coolant level is low, check for any coolant leaks. This is usually very easy to identify as you need to look for dripping coolant underneath the car or you can identify the leak by looking for puddles of coolant under the car.
If the coolant leak cannot be sorted or if you fail to identify the issue, call roadside assistance or a mechanic for professional help. Also, do not try to drive the car again till the issue is resolved.
It is extremely rare to witness a modern car overheating. However, there is a possibility for such incidents during peak summer, and the above tips will help you overcome such situations without much fuss.
