As temperatures rise, the risk of your car overheating also increases. Chicago is known for its hot and humid summers. Unfortunately, while you’re trying to stay cool during your commute, your car’s engine may be struggling to beat the heat.
Whether your vehicle is new or older, it is vital to take steps to prevent it from overheating. This is because engine damage from overheating often results in expensive repairs.
We’ve put together a list of tips to help you protect your vehicle this summer. Read on to learn how to keep your engine cool in the heat.
How to Prevent Your Car from Overheating
- Check your cooling system
If your dashboard temperature gauge shows a higher-than-normal reading or the coolant level continues to drop, your vehicle’s cooling system needs to be checked.
Other signs of cooling system problems include white exhaust smoke, visible coolant leaks, steam coming from the hood, or hot air coming from the air conditioner.
The skilled technicians at Bucaro Brothers can inspect the system and fix any issues before your engine overheats. Our team will check the radiator, fan, hoses, seals, pumps, and other cooling system components.
Even if you don’t see any warning signs that there’s a problem, a quick check can go a long way in protecting your engine from overheating.
When parking your car, try to park it in the shade to prevent the interior from overheating. Using window shades or leaving the windows open a crack can also help regulate the temperature inside your car.
Regular oil changes help prevent damage to cooling system components that rely on oil for lubrication. Oil promotes smoother operation and reduces the risk of premature wear due to friction.
- Turn off the air conditioner
Even though it’s hot outside, using your car’s air conditioning system can increase the risk of your engine overheating. This is because the engine has to work harder when the air conditioning is on. This generates more heat and puts stress on the cooling system.
Instead of turning on the air conditioning, open the windows and floor vents to let fresh air cool the interior of the car.
If you feel your car is about to overheat, turn off the air conditioning and turn up the heat. This may be a little uncomfortable, but it can help transfer heat away from the engine compartment, thereby helping to cool it down.
An old car battery can cause excessive engine drain and possibly overheating. A qualified mechanic can help determine if the battery needs to be replaced.
- Monitor Your Thermometer
Your vehicle has a temperature gauge on the dashboard. If it starts to shake into the red or the needle goes above the middle range, the temperature is higher than it should be. Pull over to the side of the road and allow the vehicle to cool down. If the problem persists, schedule a cooling system inspection at Bucaro Brothers in Chicago.
- Adding water to the coolant in an emergency
If your car starts to overheat or the engine coolant is very low or empty, you can add water to the coolant reservoir. This will allow you to drive a short distance. Do this only when the vehicle is completely cool and the reservoir cap is cool to the touch.
Prevent overheating with help from the Bucaro Brothers
Knowing how to prevent your car from overheating in the summer can save you time and money. Following these helpful tips could be the key to protecting your vehicle’s engine.
Regular maintenance and tune-ups can also help prevent your car from overheating. At Bucaro Brothers, we can take care of all of your car’s repair and maintenance needs. Our tune-ups include checking your car’s oil, transmission, tires, filters, radiator coolant, and other parts.
Call us today at (773) 219-1592 or contact us online to learn more about auto repair in Chicago. We know how to keep your engine’s temperature cool, even on hot days.
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