An overheating engine can be an absolute nightmare, especially if you’re in the middle of a road trip far from home. Once that temperature gauge starts going up, the only thing you can do is hope that getting some air moving will cool it in time. There is also the common fear that your car is about to burst into flames or shut down completely due to the extreme heat.  While there are many things you can do to prevent your car from overheating, it is also important to know what to do in case it does overheat.

There are many reasons why your car may be on the brink of overheating or has actually overheated on you. When your coolant is very low, you may see a little “maintenance light” or warning light come on over the dashboard, or maybe not. When your vehicle overheats, this is the first thing that you’ll want to check. Look at your coolant level and determine whether you need to add more. Ample coolant is vitally important for your engine, as it flows through and cools everything down, especially when you are traveling at highway speeds.

Your cooling fan could also be related to your overheated engine. If you see the temperature gauge going up, pull your vehicle over and check the fan. It could be due to a faulty electric fan or a faulty radiator switch. Other culprits could include a broken fan belt which is fairly inexpensive to replace, your thermostat is staying closed and a minimal amount of coolant is able to pass through or your radiator is clogged up and may need to be flushed of accumulated gunk. It is also important to check for leaking coolant fluid under your vehicle.  If you see a great deal of liquid underneath your car, you could have a coolant leak. This can be confirmed by checking the coolant levels; if they are low even though you recently filled it up, you’ve found the problem.  You will need to have this leak repaired by your auto repair shop immediately.

So your car is overheating. Now what are you supposed to do? If you have time and your vehicle has not shut down yet completely, bring it to the nearest auto repair shop immediately. Do not panic. Stay calm and think about the safety of you and your passengers. You should also do the following when your car is overheating:

Shut off the air conditioning and open the windows to take pressure off of the engine.

Turn on the heater so your vehicle can actually cool down a bit.

Pull over as soon as you can or find the nearest service station if you’re driving in a city.

If you must pull over, don’t open the hood until the engine stops steaming – this could take up to 30 minutes!!

If you’re vehicle has smoke coming from under the hood, do not open it! This could mean there is a fire under your hood. Call 911 and stay back. Likewise, do not open the radiator cap while it is hot. The release of pressure could lead to serious steam and liquid burns!

Keep some coolant in your car. A good emergency kit will always have a small bottle of coolant in the car for issues like this. If you don’t have coolant, water will do. But again, be sure not to open up any part of the engine until it is all cool to the touch. Safety is a priority in this situation. Do not put coolant or water into the radiator until it has had ample time to cool off. Plus, this can actually crack the engine block, thanks to the fast temperature change – and that means a small repair just turned into a serious, expensive problem.

In heavy traffic, shift your car into neutral or park, and then rev the engine. Do this gently! This moves some coolant through the engine and helps to keep things cooled down.

Call a tow truck. You may not be able to drive your vehicle anyways and they will help you to get it to your auto repair shop for diagnosis and repairs.

The best thing you can do is to call for help in this situation. The pressure and hot liquids that are involved with an overheated engine can lead to serious burns or worse. An overheated engine is somewhat preventable, but it is a serious matter that is best left to the experts. The next time you’re into our auto repair shop, have your coolant levels checked as well as your cooling system. This could help reduce your chances for an overheating vehicle. This type of preventative maintenance is very helpful in avoiding repair costs down the road, as well as a ruined road trip or summer vacation.