Whilst it’s rarer these days, even a well-tuned engine overheats. Although hot weather is the most common reason for an engine overheating, there are other various causes that can lead to it. But when something like that happens, people usually don’t ponder what could have caused it, but what to do next instead. So if your car engine is overheating, here’s a step-by-step guide that you can use so you can remain as cool as possible.

Signs your car is overheating

Before we delve into what you should do, let’s first explore some of the warning signs you should look out for that your engine is overheating. Some of these include:

• smoke is coming out from under the hood of the vehicle
• the temperature gauge on your dashboard is past the midway point and rising. The needle usually sits between 1/4 and 3/4, while it can go up to the full position.
• the engine is noisier than usual and you hear gurgling sounds or see bubbles in the radiator overflow tank or in the coolant overflow reservoir tank.
• there’s a burning smell that can be detected from inside or outside the car.

If you take note of these signs and they match up with what’s happening with your car, then you might want to consider what to do next.

Here’s what you should do when your car overheats

1. At the first sign your car is overheating, turn off your car’s air-con immediately so you don’t put added stress on the engine

2. Once you find a safe place, pull over and turn off the engine. If you’re in the middle of a busy road, don’t forget to turn on your warning lights

3. Whatever you do, don’t open the hood of your car’s engine until it has completely cooled down

4. The first thing you should check is your coolant’s level. If your level is low, a quick top-off should prevent your engine from overheating until you get it checked. During this step, you should also check under the car to see if there are any puddles. If there are, it’s a good indication that you have a coolant leak

5. Once that’s all done and you have your car running again, your first stop should be your mechanic to get the car looked at and fixed

If you don’t deem it safe to complete the steps above, then your best bet would be to call a towing company or your insurance for roadside assistance. At Auto Leaders, we offer complimentary roadside assistance with every service to get you out of trouble in times like these.

So there you have it! A step-by-step guide of what you should do if your car engine overheats.