If your car’s temperature indicator triggers, it detects white smoke coming out of the front grill and perceives the particular smell of the steam that escapes from the engine, does not panic. These are the symptoms of a reheated car, and depending on its reaction, you can avoid further damage.
First of all, do not turn off the vehicle immediately, as elements such as valves or the head gasket can damage while working hard and sudden stop can cause them to collapse.
Experts in automotive maintenance, share the following recommendations, to deal with this type of situation correctly:
- When detecting that the car starts to overheat, the first thing is to open the windows, turn off the air conditioning, the 5202 led bulb in the headlamp and turn on the heating to the maximum. Although it sounds weird, this maneuver is intended to send some of the engine heat to the cabin to start cooling it.
- Then you can proceed to park and turn off the engine, but leaving the key in the ignition position so that the fans continue to run and accelerate the cooling process.
- If the hood is too hot or the steam is still coming out, it is better to leave it still and wait for it to lower its temperature a little before venturing to open it. After a few minutes, you can proceed to lift it completely to accelerate the cooling, but always with caution. Well, do not forget that steam can leave with a lot of pressure and cause burns.
- Then you have to be very patient to wait for the engine to cool. A process that lasts between half an hour and forty-five minutes, and keep in mind that you should not try to accelerate the process by putting cold water on the radiator or the engine, as an abrupt change in temperature could cause severe damage.
- To make sure the engine is cold and not to take risks when opening the radiator cap, touch the upper hose; If it is hard and cannot tighten, do not remove the lid, as it continues to have too much pressure and you have to wait a little longer.
- With the engine cold, the checks can be started, checking if the coolant reserve tank is empty and checking the engine for leaks in the hoses, or if there is any liquid coming out from under the car. If the refrigerant container is unoccupied and has no more at hand, you can fill it only with water as a temporary solution, just like the radiator.
- If coolant levels are normal, overheating may be due to electrical or mechanical problems that are more difficult to detect as faults in the thermostat or fans, and it is better to call a crane.
- After the coolant set to the correct level and the radiator has filled, the car can start and the temperature indicator checked. If you continue to climb to the red zone, turn it off and wait another quarter of an hour before trying again.
- When you can drive, it is prudent to do so until you find the nearest mechanic to diagnose and fix the damage correctly.
