When you're in an emergency and you don’t know anyone in the area, it can be frustrating to find the right company for your needs. You might not even know where to start looking! Careful Towing Services is here for you 24 hours a day with reliable roadside assistance and long-distance towing service.

What Can You Do This Summer to Prevent Your Car From Overheating?

Overheating the engine of a vehicle is more than a minor inconvenience. At best, it will cause irreversible damage to your engine and wallet. At worst, it could endanger you and your family.

Summer months are hot, which means you'll want to brush up on your knowledge of how your engine's cooling system operates, what to do if your engine overheats, and how to avoid overheating in the first place. This guide will address each of those points in detail.

Automobile engines have been cooled in this manner since the early 1920s. Your engine is equipped with a sophisticated cooling system that circulates coolant throughout the engine and to the radiator, where it is cooled again by air entering the cold air intake of the vehicle. This system is comprised of several critical components, the most critical of which are as follows:

Radiator

Radiator cooling fans

Limiter of capacity and reserve tank

Water pump

Thermostat

Bypass system

Plugs that will freeze

Head gaskets

Intake manifold gaskets

Core of the thermostat

A slew of hoses

If your vehicle overheats, one or more of the system's components has failed. Consider a few different scenarios.

How An Engine Overheats

The engine overheats when the heat generated by normal engine operation exceeds the engine's normal operating temperature. Typically, excessive heat is caused by a cooling system malfunction in the vehicle. Several possible causes of engine overheating are listed below.

Your Cooling System Is Leaking

If your cooling system is leaking coolant, the vehicle's cooling system will eventually run out of coolant to maintain the proper operating temperature. Leaks can occur in a variety of locations, including the hoses, radiator, water pump, and head gasket.

Pump is Faulty

The cooling system circulates the coolant via the water pump. If the water pump fails, the coolant cannot circulate and the cooling cycle cannot be completed, resulting in the vehicle overheating.

Radiator Failure

Damage to the radiator or radiator cooling fans will prevent the coolant from being completely cooled before being returned to the engine. As a result, engine operating temperatures rise above normal levels, eventually resulting in engine overheating.

Deficiency of Engine Oil

Engine oil is primarily used to lubricate the engine's numerous moving parts, but it also absorbs and helps maintain the engine's temperature. If the engine's oil supply is depleted, you'll notice increased temperatures and the possibility of an overheating event.

If stopping is not possible due to safety concerns, roll down the windows, maintain a low RPM, and turn on the heat. While this may seem counterintuitive, operating the heater actually removes heat from the engine.

Do not immediately open the hood after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine has been turned off. There may be a dangerous buildup of heat and pressure, and the safest course of action is to remain in your car.

Ask for Help

Once you've reached a safe location, contact roadside assistance for assistance and a tow truck.

Knowing what to do and who to contact for assistance can help reduce the inconvenience associated with an overheating engine. Keep your trusted towing partner's contact information in your car or phone to avoid wasting time locating a towing service you can trust with your vehicle.

What Happens If the Engine of an Automobile Overheats?

Overheating occurs when a car engine is unable to maintain its normal operating temperature. As the engine's temperature rises due to failed head gaskets, cracked engine blocks, warped pistons and cylinders, and other failures, the engine will eventually self-destruct.

How Can You Tell If Your Engine's Overheating Has Caused Damage?

If you suspect that your engine has been operating at a higher temperature than normal, you should immediately contact an auto repair provider to assess the damage and repair it. Seals and gaskets that are damaged may indicate that your engine has been operating at an abnormally high temperature.

How Do You Repair An Engine That Has Severely Overheated?

To repair an overheating engine, you must repair or replace any cooling system components that have failed. These components may include the vehicle's radiator, water pump, gaskets, and thermostat.

Having the phone number of a reputable towing service saved in your phone and written down in your car can be critical for maintaining the proper operation of your vehicle. If you find yourself in an overheating situation and require towing, Careful Towing is the quickest way to get you and your vehicle out of the heat. For roadside assistance, contact us immediately.