Is Your Car Engine Overheating? Here’s What to Do (and What Not to)

You've probably witnessed the scene from just about every horror/slasher flick out there. A car is going down the road, and suddenly, it breaks down. While you may not be in a horror movie, it's crucial to know what to do in such cases.

You've probably witnessed the scene from just about every horror/slasher flick out there. A car is going down the road, and suddenly, it breaks down. To make matters worse, there's smoke billowing from the hood.

This means your engine is overheating. While you might not be in a horror movie, it can never hurt to be prepared for such instances. An overheating engine can put a damper on any type of drive, be it a road trip, or some nifty grocery shopping.

That's where we come in. You don't have to sift through the abundance of car blogs and forums, as we've got it sorted. To understand what to do in such a situation, we must look into the causes first.

Why do engines overheat?

There's an endless list of reasons for your engine overheating. At a basic level, there's an issue with your cooling component. Since your engine isn't being cooled during operations, it overheats.

Such an issue can have a myriad of sources. Where it's a leaky coolant, a faulty water pump, or a broken radiator fan, it's still a significant problem. If you don't deal with it swiftly, your engine could face much bigger problems.

What happens when a car overheats?

This largely depends on the cause. If your coolant is running low, then it can cause your engine to overheat. If it stays like this for a long time, your engine could get destroyed.

On the other hand, if you have a leaky coolant, it will show up on the reservoir tank. You might also be able to spot a pool of coolant under your vehicle. If dealt with quickly, you can fix the leak before it adversely affects your engine.

What to do if my engine overheats?

1. Turn off the A/C (and turn on the heater)

Before you can close this page, hear us out. It may sound counterintuitive, but it makes sense. By turning off the A/C, you reduce the amount of stress placed on the engine.

When you turn on the heater, and push it to the max, you can take some of the engine's heat and bring it into the car. It may even be a fix for the issue. Look for the warning sign to go off, or the temperature gauge to revert to the middle.

2. Find a safe spot and pull over

It goes without saying, but you shouldn't be driving with an overheating engine. Find a safe spot and pull over to the side. Switch off the car completely, and wait for at least 15 minutes.

At this point, you can either call a friend, or call for some swift roadside assistance from ServiceMyCar. A highly-trained representative will be dispatched to your location to assist you within 40 minutes.

3. Add some coolant if you can

In case you have coolant with you, you can add it if your vehicle isn't too hot. A quick coolant top-off will do wonders in this situation.

It'll help to not only protect your engine, but also prevent further overheating while you try to get your car engine fixed completely.

4. Drive to your trusted car workshop

The previous step is not a complete fix, but a temporary one. Adding coolant allows you to at least take your car to a trusted workshop. Using ServiceMyCar can make this step a lot more convenient for you. You get a collection and delivery service with all service packages and repairs.

You also get access to the best workshops with the most refined mechanics in the ServiceMyCar network. Brand specialist garages will inspect your car, assess the issues, and get your engine fixed in no time.

Here's what NOT to do

1. Don't continue driving in such a situation

Find the right spot to pull over. Don't drive until your temperature gauge deems it safe to do so.

2. Don't panic in such a situation

It's a tense situation and losing your cool will not do you any favours. Stay calm and find the best spot to stop your car and turn it off.

3. Don't inspect the engine immediately

As we mentioned earlier, you MUST wait for at least 15 minutes before propping up the hood. Any inspection must only be done after you feel the car isn't too hot. It's best practice to use gloves if you've got any on hand.

Consider ServiceMyCar for all your car engine repair needs

Taking good care of your car can prevent such situations from arising. However, you can never be too careful. If you require a mclaren service dubai, choose a trusted car maintenance platform like ServiceMyCar.

With an ideal blend of quality and convenience, there's no better place to get your car engine repair needs to be sorted. Get a quote now on the ServiceMyCar app, or website.