What to do if your car is overheating

Realising that your car is overheating can be stressful, especially when you’re on a long journey or a driving on a motorway, but there are lots of things you can do to help your engine cool down.

Don’t panic the next time you see your temperature gauge creeping up or you notice steam rising from your hood, take a few sensible steps to make sure you’re safe while preventing further damage to your car.

How to spot that your car is overheating?

There are a few very important signs to look out for when it comes to overheating, including:

• A temperature gauge that is in the red
• Steam emerging from your car hood
• Warning lights on your dashboard
• Engine cutting out or losing power
• Smells such as burning rubber or hot oil

How do you deal with an overheating car?

If you notice the above signs, don’t panic, follow these steps instead:

Switch off you air conditioner and crank the heat. This may seem strange, but switching of the AC will put less stress on the engine while switching up the heat will pull hot air away from the engine and into the into the cabin.

Look for a safe place to pull over and shut off your engine. Be sure to wait for at least 15 to 30 minutes before attempting to lift the hood, to give your engine time to cool. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and don’t attempt to touch any element of your engine while it’s still hot. To check engine temperature, turn the ignition to the ‘on’ position to read the gauge without starting the engine, as this could cause more heating and potential damage.

Assess your temperature gauge and decide whether you need to have your car towed. You may wish to call for roadside assistance if your engine severely overheated. If you noticed the signs and were able to pull over early, you may be able to safely drive to a garage once your engine has had time to cool down.

Either way, it will be important to check your coolant levels. If they are low, you may wish to top up. However, only do this several hours after overheating and only when your gauge says cool. A normal reading is still too hot to touch.

Top tips for overheating engines

Overall, the most important thing to do is avoid panicking. Driving carefully to a safe parking spot and switching your engine off is your first port of call. Don’t be tempted to pop your hood or start checking levels right away, you must give your engine time to cool to safe levels first.

You are also likely to want to have your car checked over after an overheating incident, even if you don’t need to call roadside assistance at the time. A car service or assessment can check whether there are any leaks or damage parts of your engine that have contributed to overheating.