Car Engine Overheating

There is nothing more frustrating than having a trouble with a car on your way to school, to work, or meeting your commitment. I’ve been encountering this problem before in an old model car but I put into practice a regular inspection of car engine before I put myself on the wheel. Just lately, I evaded the possibility of overheating when I noticed a loose screw on the radiator hose fastening.

 

Car engine overheating is a common cause of engine malfunction. This can be avoided by a regular checking of the following:

 

1) Check the coolant or water level at coolant reservoir or at the radiator. Low level means you have to add the same type of coolant or water, whatever is available; 2) Check if there is any leak or white spot at the radiator, on its cap, hoses, drain plugs, or water trails in the engine. If you notice that when operating in a short period, the water level drops, you can be sure there is a leak in the system; and 3) Check at random the water pump belt and the electric cooling fans.

 

When you actually encounter engine overheating, the first sign is a loss of power. This is so, in spite of depressing the accelerator pedal, you will not increase the speed. You will hear a knocking or pinging sound and the temperature gage level will be raising from normal until it hit the red mark – the intolerable level. When this happen; pull off the road to safety, turn-on emergency light flashers, shift transmission to neutral, apply hand brake, and turn-off the air-con. When too much steam is coming out, don’t open the hood but stop the engine and wait a few minutes to cool-off before attempting to open. When heating subsides, have a piece of glove or rags as padding in opening the radiator cap – don’t try to open the cap when very hot, it may result to serious injuries and don’t add coolant when the engine is off at this instant, engine block may be damaged. You may add coolant or water at the reservoir while the engine is running and if it is not too hot, meaning no steam is escaping.

 

After visual checking when the engine has cooled, the water pump belt is in order, no leaks, and coolant has been added; you may start the engine.

 

When it works, release the pressure within you with deep breath, thank Him, and regain your composure...and have a pleasure driving!