There are several moments that are quite embarrassing to the vehicle owner, and an overheating engine is at the top pile. It can cut your summer road trip short and put your family in an awkward position. But it is preventable with regular maintenance.

The combustion process in an engine is extremely hot but necessary to produce power, and the heat escapes the engine compartment through the cooling system. However, this system can experience a problem and cause overheating.

Signs and Causes of Overheating

Several things could go wrong with the cooling system. The radiator fan can stop working, or there could be a leak somewhere, or even the coolant hose could be broken. But whatever the cause, an overheating engine is not something to overlook, rest you end up with a toast for an engine.

A common symptom of an overheated engine is smoking steam from under the hood. Depending on your vehicle model, the engine temperature gauge shoots to red or H, and you may notice a strange smell.

What You can do

Immediately switch off the AC and crank up the heat to reduce stress on the engine. Of course, you will be a bit hot, but that is a very small price to pay compared to a major engine fix. Identify a safe spot to pull over and kill the engine.

Normally, an hour or so should bring down the temperatures completely. Check the coolant level and top it up. This will protect your engine until you can get the vehicle fixed. But this quick fix won’t do much good if there is a clog in the coolant hose, and the same case applies to a broken water pump or radiator fan.

Next, plan to get the vehicle to your mechanic, such as calling a tow truck, a friend, or a local road assistance service. You can also restart the engine and drive to the nearest repair shop. However, keep an eye on the temperature gauge and pull over when the engine overheats.

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