You're a long way from your Ohio home, and the last thing you want to see is a smoking engine. Pulling over on the side of the road is the first step, but what do you do next when road trip trouble strikes? Learn what to do and not do when your car overheats.
Steer clear of an overheating engine with advice and service from the Jim Schmidt Chevrolet Buick service center in Hicksville, OH.
Why Do Engines Overheat?
Your engine consists of several components, so there are dozens of issues that can cause the engine to malfunction and overheat.
Something may be wrong with the cooling system or it may be leaking. With a failing cooling system, heat can't escape the engine block. The radiator, a central component to your Buick or Chevrolet's cooling system, could also have issues. There could also be a clogged coolant hose, faulty radiator fan, or broken water pump.
Signs Your Engine Is Overheating
- Steam — appearing like smoke — is coming from under the hood.
- The engine temperature gauge on the dashboard reads H for High and rises into the red or critical alert zone.
- Bryan, OH drivers smell a strange scent coming from the engine area.
What to Do When Your Engine Overheats—Schedule Service in Hicksville
It's important for Defiance, OH drivers to take steps to cool their engine before it overheats and fails. Here's what to do:
- Crank the Heat!: Killing the A/C and cranking the heat pulls heat away from the engine. This way, the engine doesn't overheat anymore than it already has.
- Pull Over in a Safe Spot!: Make sure you pull off on the side of the road in a safe spot, out of the way of oncoming traffic. Then let the engine cool for 15 minutes and monitor the temperature gauge.
- Check Engine Coolant: Topping off your car's engine coolant and replenishing antifreeze, if necessary, helps cool the engine and regulate temperature.
- Restart the Engine: Fort Wayne drivers should try restarting the engine to see if the temperature regulates.
Schedule Service Online with Jim Schmidt Chevrolet Buick to Address Your Overheating Engine
Here's what Hicksville drivers should NOT do. Don't panic. Don't continue driving. Don't let the issue linger. All lead to more difficulties and increased stress levels.
Instead of letting an overheating engine result in major repairs, take care of the problem right away by relying on the Jim Schmidt Chevrolet Buick service center. Use our online service scheduler to make an appointment so our factory-trained technicians can take care of your overheating engine!