
You may get a little hot yourself, but a few minutes of discomfort is a small price to pay compared to major engine repairs. This can help pull heat away from the engine to keep it from overheating until you can pull over in a safe location. Immediately turn off the air conditioner to reduce stress on the engine. For example, leaking coolant can smell sweet while leaking oil might smell more burnt.Īs soon as you notice the engine overheating, take the following steps and contact your nearest repair shop. A strange smell coming from the engine area.(Engine temperature gauge symbols vary, so consult your owner's manual.) An engine temperature gauge on your dashboard that spikes to "H" or into the red.Steam (which can look like smoke) coming from under the car hood.But first, you've got to notice the symptoms of overheating, which can include: If you’re able to take steps to cool your engine before it overheats to the point of failing, you may reduce the risk of irreversible engine damage. Your engine could sustain serious, if not permanent, damage. Regardless of the problem's source, an overheating engine isn't something you want to let linger. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose. In general, it's because something's wrong within the cooling system and heat isn't able to escape the engine compartment. Why Do Engines Overheat?Įngines can overheat for many reasons.

Coolant temperature movie#
Seems like no summer horror movie is complete without this iconic scene, but it’s certainly not something you want to reenact on your next road trip! Make sure you’re prepared if disaster strikes and learn what to do (and not do!) when your car engine overheats. The engine starts smoking, and the family has to pull over. After a few hours on the road, disaster strikes. A carefree family hops in the car, excited for a weekend at the beach.
