How to Cool Down an Overheated Car

If your car overheats and damages the engine, you have no one to blame but yourself. Keep your eyes on the temperature gauge and never let the needle move into the red. Pull over before it gets too hot.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Manuals
• Rags
• Rags
• Engine Coolants

1. Turn off the engine.

2. Wait. If the engine is steaming, don't open the hood.

3. Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard to open the hood when the car has cooled completely.

4. Walk around the front of the car, reach under the hood, find the latch and squeeze it. As you squeeze the latch, pull up and open the hood.

5. Check the coolant reservoir tank first. It's a plastic jug that has a small hose running to the radiator. The reservoir can be filled when the engine is hot (except on German and Swedish cars, the plastic reservoir is also under pressure, so don't open when the engine is hot).

6. Open the radiator cap with a rag. Remember: open it only after the engine has completely cooled. If you're not sure, don't open the cap. If you open the cap while it's still warm, you may burn yourself with steam or hot coolant. Open the cap slowly, as if you were opening a bottle of soda that has been shaken up.

7. Examine the radiator. Look inside and see if there's coolant left. If needed, fill to the top of the radiator.

8. Put the radiator cap back on.

9. Check to see that the upper or lower radiator hose, or any of the heater hoses, hasn't burst.

10. Restart the engine.

11. Watch the temperature gauge obsessively. Don't let the needle go into the red. Turn off the engine if the gauge approaches the red zone.

12. Understand that you can continue driving a high-temperature vehicle if you're far from a phone or a service station and the car does not need coolant (or does not respond to these instructions). However, drive only as long as you stop and turn off the engine whenever the gauge gets close to the red, and let the engine cool down until you drive again. This may take a long time, but it probably beats walking.

Tips & Warnings

• Overheating can be caused by factors other than low coolant level (thermostat stuck closed, blocked radiator, malfunctioning fan or failed water pump). If the coolant level isn't low, it's time to visit a mechanic.
• It's OK to add just plain water or antifreeze in an overheating, emergency situation. When routinely adding or changing coolant, always use a 50-50 mixture of water and antifreeze.

[spartanic]

on 4/30/2009 There's a nice article about troubleshooting the cooling system at this site: http://www.garage411.com/CoolingSystem

[ptgarcia60]

on 4/12/2009 I'm afraid you left out a very effective tip that will drop your engine temperature without even stopping the car. This is helpful when towing trailers over the mountains or through the desert.If the temperature gauge starts to rise too high, turn off the air conditioner, turn on the heater and crank up the fan to full speed. You will be able to bleed off quite a bit of heat and lower the needle. Sure, your passengers may get a little warm but, open the windows and it will save you from full blown radiator geyser.

[takezo]

on 12/26/2008 A good, safe way to add coolant to a car is to add it to the reservoir instead of to the super hot radiator.

[quinnellabella]

on 11/7/2008 thank god. how long do i wait to drive it again? about how long?

[bigsound]

on 6/11/2008 Hi! Nice article! To complement it, I have written an article that could keep the inside of your car cool during warm days. It would help keep your passengers comfortable. Hope you will read it. Thanks!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/815331/how_to_make_your_car_cool.html?cat=5