Taking care of the engine of our vehicle is essential to extend its useful life. On certain occasions it may suffer from overheating, although this is unlikely, since today’s cars bring sophisticated cooling systems with them.
These systems are equipped with multiple heat sensors and computer controlled electric fans, which allow the power unit to operate in any type of weather. However, despite so much technology, our car is not entirely exempt from overheating.
Various reasons generate this situation, mainly when the aforementioned cooling system does not work as it should, preventing heat from dissipating properly.
It is usually due to leaks or blockages caused by the system or other components, such as the water pump, the radiator fan (faulty or broken) or a clogged coolant hose.
Certain conditions such as the type of driving the driver is performing and intermittent traffic on a hot day can lead to a significant pressure on the cooling system and cause it to fail.
Symptoms of engine overheating
- Steam: It usually comes from the front of the vehicle under the hood, and is often mistaken for smoke.
- The engine temperature gauge located on the dash or console moves the needle toward the letter H”.
- Smells: Strange fragrances emanating from the front of the car are often a symptom, especially near the hood. For example, coolant leaks often have a sweet odor, while oil leaks carry burning odors.
What to do in case of overheating
The steps are simple but very few people follow them. The first thing to do is turn on the heater so that it, draw heat into the passenger compartment and create a heat release effect in the engine. Even on several occasions this could be enough to solve the problem, momentarily.
If you continue with signs of overheating, you should stop the car in a safe area, place the road triangle. Then add some coolant to see how the power unit reacts.
Probably, this action will not fix the overheating but it will allow you to drive to a nearby service station or garage to repair the fault. If you are very far from any of these options, it is best to ask for help.
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