There aren’t many things more anxiety-inducing than driving along and suddenly noticing your temperature gauge is creeping up, hotter and hotter. You might say to yourself:
• “Oh no! Why is my car overheating?”
• “Do I have a radiator leak?”
• “Do I need a radiator repair?”
• “Should I try to make it to an auto repair shop, or pull over and have my car towed?”
As experienced mechanics, we can tell you a car overheating problem isn’t something to ignore, as you could seriously damage your engine. Here’s more advice on looking out for radiator issues, like a radiator leak, and reasons you may need a radiator repair.
Looking Out for Radiator Leaks to Prevent Car Overheating
If you’re driving along and notice your temperature gauge moving toward the red, your car isn’t going to immediately explode or anything like that; however, driving with an overheating engine can cause serious damage to your car. It’s best to pull over and deal with car overheating right away rather than risking very expensive auto repairs later. If your car is overheating, turn off the A/C, as running the air conditioning puts strain on your engine, and turn on the heater. This blows some excess heat from the engine into your car. While it’s not ideal on a hot day, it does help cool the engine down. You can also put your car in park and rev the engine. This makes the radiator fan and water pump work faster, which pulls more air and water through your car’s radiator. Keep in mind, these are only temporary fixes until you get to an auto repair shop.
Radiator Problems Requiring Radiator Repair
As previously stated, the most standard cause of car overheating issues derives from the radiator. Radiator leaks, clogs, and radiator fan problems hinder heat from properly fleeing your car. In turn this leads to the engine temperature to increase. If you have any inkling that you may have a radiator issue, get your radiator inspected immediately because getting your radiator repaired or replaced is significantly more cost efficient than repairing or replacing your engine.
Where to Get Your Car Serviced for Overheating Problems
If you notice your car is overheating, turn the heat on in your car, as this will help move hot air away from your engine, and bring it to a mechanic right away. Procrastination is not an option when it comes to car overheating—you could cause your engine system to fail, which can mean thousands of dollars in auto repairs. Tend to that radiator leak now, get the radiator repair you need, and thank yourself later.