How to deal with an overheating engine
Seeing your car’s temperature gauge rise towards the red zone is frightening. Here’s how to safely deal with the problem.
1.) Pull over
If you see smoke or steam billowing from your bonnet, or your temperature gauge reading is abnormal, pull over to the side of the road as soon as it’s safe. Once you’ve pulled over, open the bonnet carefully and wait until the car cools down.2.) Don’t get up in your car’s grill
It might be tempting to inspect the engine, but after you’ve opened the bonnet, take a step back. A climbing temperature gauge often means boiling coolant; never open the radiator cap while the engine is hot or the cooling system is under pressure – coolant could spray and burn you.
Don’t inspect your engine bay. Open the bonnet, then step back.
3.) Get your car to a mechanic
Don’t continue driving an overheating car as you’ll likely cause more damage. If you’re broken down on the side of the road, call RAA on 13 11 11. They’ll take a look at your car to see what’s causing the problem, and if it needs to be towed to a mechanic for further analysis.
Get your car to a mechanic. They’ll be able to find out what’s wrong.
4.) Find out what’s causing the problem
There could be a range of reasons your engine is overheating. A mechanic should be able to run tests and diagnose the problem. A leak in the cooling system is the number one reason for an overheating engine, followed by worn out or burst hoses, a poorly performing radiator and loose or broken belts.
Once the problem is identified, your mechanic will fix your car.