What To Do When Your Car Overheats - Jiffy Lube

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAR OVERHEATS

Uh-oh! It’s happened! Now what? Here’s your step-by-step game plan of what to do:

• DO Immediately turn off the air conditioner. This will help reduce stress on the engine and cooling system.
• DO turn up the heat. Huh? Crank the heat? Yes! This will help divert heat away from the engine. 
• DO find a safe place to pull over and shut off the engine.
• DO allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the gauge (if equipped), waiting until it moves back to the normal range.
• DO take out your phone. You need to get your car to a repair shop, so call a friend or a tow truck.
• DO add radiator fluid (if you have it). A quick top-off could help protect your engine from further damage.
• DO carefully restart the engine (if your car isn’t being towed). Drive to the nearest repair shop, all the while keeping an eye on the gauge/light. If it begins to creep up/illuminate again, pull over and let it cool.

Knowing what to do when your car overheats is important. So is knowing what not to do:

• DON’T just continue on to your destination. Your overheated engine may still be running, but it’s not fine. You risk costly damage to your engine if you keep driving.
• DON’T panic. Your engine may have lost its cool, but now is the time for you to keep yours! Drive carefully until you find a safe place to pull over.
• DON’T open the hood immediately. It’s hot in there, and you risk being burned if you act too soon. Wait until the gauge moves back to the normal range or the light extinguishes before you open the hood.
• DON’T wait for it to get better on its own. An overheating engine won’t repair itself, and you should bring your car in to Jiffy Lube as soon as you can.

Now that you know what actions to take (or not take!) when your car overheats, let’s look for ways to help prevent the problem in the first place.

Your engine’s cooling system, controlled by the car thermostat, keeps coolant circulating through the engine and radiator. This reduces heat levels and protects against corrosion. When the cooling system isn’t functioning properly, the temperature of your engine can get too hot. Proper maintenance of your cooling system can help optimize the performance and longevity of your engine and help prevent damage of overheating the engine. 

IT’S EASY TO CHECK YOUR COOLANT LEVEL YOURSELF

It’s a good idea to do this every few months, or before you hit the road for a long trip. Knowing how to complete this simple task is almost as important as knowing what to do when your car overheats.

• Release the hood. 
• Find the radiator reservoir (usually a white tank). 
• Visually inspect the level on the side of the reservoir. The level should be between the “low” and the “full” marks.
• If it’s beneath the “low” mark, allow your engine to cool down and add more coolant. Check your owner’s manual for the correct fluid. Use a funnel to prevent spills on the engine (or just bring your car to a nearby Jiffy Lube location and ask them to do it for you).