Driving tips to avoid overheating your car engine

Drive slowly instead of stopping and then accelerating.

Stopping and accelerating can put a lot of stress on the engine and cause it to overheat, especially in older cars. So avoid braking and let the car roll slowly if you know you will have to stop again soon.

In addition, you should regularly check the temperature needle when encountering red lights or stop signs.

Regularly change oil and check fans

Old oil can lead to engine overheating, especially when combined with low coolant and other problems. Have your mechanic check your radiator fan every time you change your oil. Catching a problem right away can help you avoid costly repairs later.

Pay attention to see if you can hear the radiator fan running after you turn off the engine, as the fan will normally continue to run to cool the vehicle.

Top up coolant

Check the coolant reservoir and make sure it is at the correct level. If it is low, mix coolant and water in equal parts and add to the required level. This is especially important if you live in a hot climate.

When checking the cooling system, check for signs of leaks (coolant is usually green and has a pleasant smell); check under the car, around the engine, on all hoses and various parts of the radiator.

Open the windows instead of turning on the air conditioner when the engine is hot

The air conditioner uses the engine's electricity to cool the air in the car, making the engine work harder. When the engine overheats, the first thing you should do is turn off the air conditioner, and if you are afraid of the engine overheating for some reason, you should also stop using it completely.

If you don’t know how to check your car, look for radiator leaks, air conditioning problems, and low coolant levels. Try turning the air conditioning off.

* Emergency treatment when car engine overheats

- Pull over as soon as possible.If you cannot stop immediately, turn off the air conditioner, open the windows; turn on the heater and fan to let the heat escape quickly; turn on the hazard lights and reduce speed, driving slowly until you find a place to stop.

- Open the hood when the steam is gone.If the car is not too hot, just turn off the engine and open the hood. If the hood is too hot and steam is still coming out, wait until the hood cools down before opening it to avoid burns.

- Check the radiator hose above the radiator.Squeeze the radiator hose gently with your hand to determine if the radiator system is under pressure and whether it is safe to open the radiator cap. If it feels hard and difficult to squeeze, it means the pressure in the system is still high and you should not open the radiator cap at this time.

- Unscrew the radiator cap.Opening the lid causes the liquid inside to cool rapidly when exposed to air.

- Check if the engine is leaking.If the engine is leaking, it needs to be repaired quickly.Add clean water to replace the coolant.

- Restart the vehicle after it has cooled.Restart the car to check if the temperature needle is still in the red. If it is, turn off the engine and wait another 10-15 minutes for the car to cool down before driving again.

- In serious cases call an ambulance immediately.If your car has an oil leak or the engine won’t cool down, it’s best to call a tow truck immediately. If you’re not careful, overheating can damage the engine and the entire car.