Engine overheating indicates an underlying problem that might need immediate attention. If not resolved, the issue causing overheating will eventually damage the entire engine. In a hot country like the UAE, heat, dust and sand can make the overheating problem even worse. In order to save your car’s engine from severe damage, it is important to know the right things to do when your car overheats.
This guide will tell you what you need to do in case your car overheats and stops working.
Things to Do When Your Car Overheats
If you notice smoke coming out of your car’s bonnet, here is what you can do.
Turn Off the Ac and Start the Heater
You may consider turning the AC on to bring down the temperature but this is counterproductive. Car AC can only lower the temperature inside the car. Turning the heater on to the maximum level is one of the useful things to do when your car engine overheats. This can help you pull heat away from the engine and prevent it from overheating until you find a place to pull over. To avoid such a situation, you must know the signs to identify the causes of car overheating.
Pull over at a Safe Place
Driving a car when it is overheating can cause serious damage to your engine; therefore, it is best to find a safe place and pull over as soon as possible. Once you pull over a vehicle, allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes. Keep all your attention to the temperature gauge, if it is moving back to the normal range or not. Do not lift the bonnet or touch the engine unless you see the temperature dropping to a normal level.
Let the Heat Escape
After finding a safe place, open the hood of your car and let the excess heat escape. You need to be very careful because a hot engine can discharge boiling coolant without any warning. However, if you are unable to open a hood yourself, you can call for professional assistance. Either way, don’t try to touch a hot engine without any safety gloves.
Check for Leaks
You may not be an expert, but some causes of overheating such as cooling system leaks are not difficult to identify. So, check if your car radiator is leaking or not and see if there is enough coolant. If the coolant level is low despite regular filling, it may be due to a leak. Sometimes there can be enough coolant but a leak may be preventing it from doing its job.
Add Coolant If Needed
If your car is losing water and overheating, then try to find leaks in it. In case you don’t find any leaks then, it may be is low on coolant due to negligence. In this scenario, a quick reset can protect the engine and prevent overheating until you fix it. Also, you need to know the difference between car coolants before adding them to your vehicle.
To check the coolant level, remove the radiator cap once the engine has cooled down. It is important to wait before opening the cap can. The hot liquid shooting out can cause burns and eye irritation. Open the radiator cap and add coolant slowly until the liquid reaches the mark.
Restart the Engine
After adding the coolant, replace the cap and turn on the car’s engine. Check if the temperature gauge is coming back to normal and the warning light is out. After that, you can start the engine and proceed with driving. However, keep an eye on the dashboard warning light and temperature gauge to see if the problem persists.
Drive to the Nearest Garage
If adding coolant doesn’t help then, drive to the nearest garage if possible. Trained professionals will inspect your vehicle and solve the issue after proper diagnosis. Search the web and you might find the best car service deals in Dubai to get hassle-free professional assistance within budget.
If your car overheats frequently despite repairs, then maybe it is time to replace it with a car in better condition. For this purpose, check the listings of used cars for sale in the UAE at dubizzle and find a range of options:
- Buy used cars in Dubai
- Used cars for sale in Sharjah
- Used cars for sale in Abu Dhabi
- Buy second-hand cars in Ajman
- Buy second-hand cars in Al Ain
- Used cars for sale in Fujairah
FAQs
How do you fix a car that overheats?
First of all, do not panic and turn on the car’s heater instead of the AC. Find a safe place and pull over to avoid further damage. Wait before you lift the bonnet to check the engine. See oil and coolant levels and refill if needed. If you are unable to find and fix the issue, call a recovery or call the insurance provider. Recovery will take it to a garage.
How far can you drive an overheating car?
It is not recommended to drive when the car is overheating. If the gauge shows it overheating and smoke is billowing from the engine, it is best to pull off the road safely. Driving with an overheating engine can cause several damages, such as a car blow up that can lead to serious accidents.
Now you know what to do when your car overheats. Make sure you always check the coolant temperature of a vehicle before leaving for your journey. Also, as soon as you see that the engine is overheating follow the mentioned steps or visit any nearest service centre.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top car blogs for more on cars, car problems and troubleshooting.
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