If you live in a place prone to extreme summers, you’ve either heard of, or had to deal with your car overheating. It’s a problem that can make travel difficult and, in the worst cases, shorten the lifespan of your vehicle.
Fortunately, once you understand what causes a car to overheat, there are actions you can take to reduce the chances of that from happening. For your convenience, Kennedy Transmission has put together a shortlist of five different tips and tricks we think will help you avoid this situation.
Tip #1: Routine Coolant and Regulator Check-Ups
A regular part of car maintenance is ensuring your vehicle has an adequate amount of water and coolant. It may seem like an obvious procedure, but water and coolant levels are often neglected, creating easily avoidable situations where your engine overheats.
Your best bet is to check once a week, or whenever you’re about to go on a long road trip. If you aren’t comfortable checking your radiator and coolant reservoir, find a professional to inspect and replace any missing fluids.
Tip #2: Watch The Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge in your vehicle is just as important as the fuel gauge, especially in the summer. If you’re on the road in the searing summer daylight, make sure to keep an eye on that heat gauge, or risk your car overheating and petering out in the middle of the highway.
Tip #3: Find a Safe Place to Rest
If it looks like overheating is inevitable, find the nearest place to stop and let your car cool down. Ideally, park in the shade to give your vehicle an opportunity to escape the sunlight for a little while. Parking in the shade also gives you a moment to review what may have caused your overheating issue and determine your next plan of attack.
Tip #4: Shut off the Air-Conditioner
There’s no singular answer for what causes a car to overheat. The reason can even be as simple as the engine has been pushed too hard or for too long. It may be an unappealing option, but if your car is about to hit its heat limit, turn off your air-conditioning. Doing so will force you to endure the brunt of the outdoor heat, but it’s a step that helps lessens the load on your vehicle and allows it to cool down (at least until you find a gas station).
Tip #5: Check for Leaks
Hopefully, you don’t find yourself with a leak on the open road, but it’s always a possibility. After replacing your water and coolant, take some time to observe your car’s temperature to make sure it’s going down. If it’s not, there’s a chance that either your coolant reservoir or radiator has a leak. Whenever dealing with potential leaks, you should find a reliable mechanic to do a professional diagnosis of the problem.
Discover a Trustworthy Cooling System Repair Service in Minnesota
From outside heat to a mere lack of coolant and water, car overheating causes can vary from vehicle to vehicle If you’ve tried to fix the problem on your own to no avail, your next course of action is to consult with a repair service professional, such as Kennedy Transmission Brake and Auto Service.
Featuring locations throughout Minnesota, Kennedy is prepared to provide peak vehicle care, and help you tackle any concerns you might have about engine overheat this summer and beyond.
Contact us with any needs, questions, or concerns you may have, and one of our agents will get back to you!
