Nobody likes to see steam coming from their radiator, so why not take steps to avoid it happening to you? This article can help.

Nobody likes to drive and see steam pouring from the hood, however, you only need to drive on a hot day and look at all of the cars pulled over on the side of the road to know that it can, and will happen, whether you are in a convenient space or not.

Don't Let an Overheated Engine Get the Best of You

K&K Oils and lube knows that it doesn’t have to be this way, with numerous tips drivers can take advantage of to reduce the risk of their vehicles overheating, and has prepared an article on the topic.

Don’t Just Watch the Temperature Gauge

It may seem like a basic tip, but when them majority of drivers see their temperature gauge begin to rise, they cross their fingers and toes and hope that their engine won’t overheat. And while this may work sometimes, it isn’t a great method to take care of your engine. Instead, the next time that you can see your temperature gauge rising and traffic is showing no signs of getting any better, look for somewhere you can safely pull over and wait for the temperatures to drop or the traffic to alleviate. Pulling over before your engine gets too hot is a great way to both prevent getting stuck without a place to safely stop and prevents engine damage.

Traffic on a Hot Day

Getting caught in traffic won’t just make you late and frustrated, it can also cause your engine to overheat. After all, your radiator relies on the fan and the flow of air as you drive to keep your engine cool. Without this, your engine is just sitting in the sun running hot.

• On hot days, look for alternative routes to drive which involve fewer instances of traffic. Even if this means driving for a little longer, 5 minutes extra on a better route can keep your car moving and your engine cool.
• If you can’t find a better route, consider completing your errands early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are low.

Of course, if you do find yourself in traffic and you can’t move anywhere to pull over, consider shifting into neutral and gently revving the engine. This will activate the radiator fan and help in the short term until you can find a place to pull over.

Fluids

Just as the name suggests, your coolant plays a large role in how hot your engine can become. If you run out of coolant, or even just water in your radiator, then you’re headed straight for an overheated engine. The easiest way to prevent this is by keeping your fluids topped up, especially your coolant and water. Each fluid that your engine utilizes plays its role in keeping your engine healthy and performing at its best, which means less chance of overheating, so take some time now to check your levels and, if you can see any of your fluids are no longer effective, flush it out and replace it. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and help prevent your engine from overheating during hot days. To learn more about how replacing your coolant and giving your engine a synthetic oil change can help improve your engine performance and reduce operating temperatures, speak with a friendly professional at K&K Oils and lube by calling (918) 269-0081 or visit the online store for more information.

No More A/C

This tip may not be your favorite, but it can have the most effect on your engine’s temperature. Each time that you take advantage of your air conditioner, an additional motor is required, which puts extra stress on your engine. During a warm day, this isn’t a problem, however, when the temperatures get too hot, this additional stress can be what is needed to take you from safe driving to overheating. Instead, when driving during hot weather, lower your front windows a large amount and your rear windows a small amount. This can encourage natural air flow into your car which can help you and your passengers feel more comfortable while lowering the rear windows allows hot stuffy air to be pushed out.

If Your Engine Overheats

These tips are great ways to help your engine from overheating, however, there will be times when you are stuck and find yourself looking at steam pouring from your engine. If this happens, consider these points:

• Don’t take the cap off the radiator! An overheated engine means that your radiator and its cap are extremely hot. Not only can you burn your hand trying to take off the cap, but the pressure inside will cause hot water to explode all over you, causing its own injuries.
• Don’t pour cold water into a hot radiator. While it may seem like a natural solution, pouring cold water on a hot radiator can cause it to crack, which doesn’t just mean that you won’t be driving away, but that you will also need a new radiator.
• Wait. That’s right - wait. That’s all you can do when your engine has overheated. Pull over safely and wait while your engine cools down.

Improve Engine Performance with a Synthetic Oil Change in Clermont

If you are worried about your engine overheating, taking on these tips and keeping your engine in good working order can help. To find out more or for help placing an order for the right product for you engine type, speak with a friendly expert on the subject by calling K&K Oils and lube at (918) 269-0081.