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Car overheating can happen anytime, but fortunately, not many times. Overheating is when the car engine temperature exceeds the limits, causing inconvenience when driving the vehicle.
A vehicle surely comes with a cooling system to maintain the car’s engine temperature. However, with frequent use of the car, its cooling system might act out and cause overheating.
When a car overheats, the following signs may be noticeable: its engine feels sluggish, the AC stops producing cool air, and the vehicle may even stall. The temperature gauge on the dashboard can also rise to a high level or display a warning icon.
With those indications, it’s best to know what causes overheating and ways to overcome it to help you stay calm.
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There are at least 4 common causes of a car to overheat. Check them out below.
Engine coolant functions to absorb heat. It gradually runs out as the car is used and the engine becomes hot. When this liquid is low or depleted, the car’s cooling system cannot maintain the engine temperature.
A leaking radiator can deplete the engine coolant, causing the cooling system’s inability to maintain the engine temperature.
A radiator fan circulates fresh air from outside the vehicle to cool the radiator down. When not functioning properly, the cooling system will work harder, which will lead to overheating.
A thermostat works by controlling the flow of engine coolant to the engine. When the engine reaches a certain temperature, the thermostat will open its valve to allow engine coolant to flow through the engine and absorb heat.
A broken thermostat will block engine coolant from flowing through the engine and cause overheating.
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Try to stay calm when your car overheats, then fix the problem using these 5 ways.
During car overheating, immediately turn off the car AC to stop the compressor from functioning and reduce the engine load. Doing so will prevent the engine temperature from rising even higher.
Pull over safely as soon as you find a safe spot, and then turn off the engine to help cool down the car. Avoid driving your car when it still overheats to prevent the engine components from damaging.
As a safety precaution, some cars might be equipped with a sensor to turn off the engine in case of overheating automatically.
Once your car has cooled down, open the hood to allow hot air to escape and help the engine return to its normal temperature.
Be careful when opening the hood because the hood prop rod can also become extremely hot.
Wait until the engine temperature drops. It’s recommended to wait for 30 minutes to a few hours until the engine is completely cooled down. Don’t attempt to continue the trip when the engine is still hot.
When the engine has cooled down, check the engine coolant level by removing the radiator cap. Avoid doing so when the engine is still hot, as the pressure inside the radiator may cause the engine coolant to spurt out. Add engine coolant if it depletes.
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Lastly, check for any leak in the engine cooling system. If there’s any leak, immediately take your car to the car repair shop to prevent even more serious issues.
Now, you no longer need to panic when your car overheats after learning the causes and solutions. Looking for an easier and more practical solution? You can just rent a car for your daily mobility.
Make a smart choice by opting for only a professional and reputable car rental company like TRAC. This transport company is a business line of PT Serasi Autoraya (SERA), a part of Astra Group. It offers reliable solutions for personal and enterprise transportation needs.
Diverse choices of cars are available to rent in the short and long term. Among them are fuel-efficient vehicles like the Avanza, Xenia, Ertiga, Agya, Brio, Sigra, and Xpander.
You might want to see other choices in the hatchback/sedan categories, such as the Daihatsu Ayla, Toyota Corolla Altis, and BMW 5 Series.
MPVs are also available, ranging from Toyota Calya and Daihatsu Gran Max to Toyota Alphard/Vellfire. Looking for some SUVs? You can choose from Toyota Fortuner, Daihatsu Terios, Mitsubishi Pajero, BMW X6, Lexus RX300, or Toyota Land Cruiser.
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TRAC guarantees that every car in its fleet is in good shape and ready to go, including the latest car model. It provides you with comprehensive service, including 24/7 customer support.
Booking is also made easy using the reservation page on TRAC’s website or the TRACtoGo application that’s available to download from the Play Store and App Store.