Overheating Engine

Your engine can overheat at any time of year. The most common source of this problem is a loss of engine coolant, either because of a leak or lack of attention over a long period. Water pump and fan issues can also contribute to overheating.

A good defensive driver scans, as you read about earlier in the course. Recall that scanning involves checking your dash board. If your vehicle has a temperature gauge, understand how it reads under normal circumstances. This should be easy if you drive the vehicle on a regular basis. If the temperature gauge seems to be higher than usual, monitor it more closely – just don’t forget the road! As soon as it is obvious that the reading continues to rise, plan to pull off the road. Your best bet is to find a place where you can get service, even if just purchasing engine coolant.

If your vehicle does not have a temperature gauge, or you decide to ignore the climbing reading, expect to smell engine coolant soon. Close behind will be steam coming from under your hood. At this point, you must pull over immediately. Failing to do so will result in serious damage to your vehicle’s engine. By the way, be sure it is steam you see and not smoke. The tell tale odor of engine coolant should make it pretty clear.

Once you pull over, open the hood with extreme caution. You could burn your hands on the hood release latch. Additionally, a cloud of steam may surround you when you raise the hood. Steam causes burns. Finally, let the car sit for some time before you attempt to open the radiator cap. Remember, steam comes from heat and pressure builds because the coolant in your engine is in an enclosed assembly. Attempt to remove the radiator cap too soon and you may get sprayed with extremely hot chemically based fluid. If it is obvious that a coolant hose has broken loose from the engine or the hose is damaged, you’ll need to call for help. With luck, you will just fill your system with coolant once it’s cool and continue on your way. Remember to fasten the radiator cap securely after you refill.