If you’re cruising along the highways this summer, the last thing you want to feel is your car sputter to a halt due to an overheating engine.
Being stranded on the side of the road during one of the hottest summers on record in Texas isn’t an ideal situation.
Why Should You Care About Your Engine Overheating?
When your vehicle’s engine overheats, the material it’s made of will begin to warp, crack, and start to cause major problems with your vehicle’s operation.
Driving with an engine that regularly overheats can lead to issues like:
- Misfires
- Excessive oil burning
- Decreased engine performance
- Wiring damage
- Belt damage
- Melted sensors
- Damaged gaskets
Any issue that results from an overheated engine puts your vehicle at risk and out of commission.
Make sure that your vehicle doesn’t suffer an overheating fate this summer. Follow Kwik Kar’s handy tips to help prevent overheating and the expensive risks of the issue.
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Keep Your Vehicle as Shaded as Possible
While keeping your vehicle shaded won’t necessarily prevent an overheating engine, we’d be remiss to leave this tip off the list. When your vehicle is generally cool, it’s comfortable. So, during the summer, park in the shade when possible and invest in a UV heat shield that keeps your vehicle’s interior as cool as possible between trips.
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Check the Oil in Your Engine
One of the key reasons behind your engine overheating is lack of lubrication. If your oil levels are low, your engine is under excessive pressure and at risk of overheating.
If you check your oil’s dipstick and find that the oil falls beneath the two lines near its tip, it’s time for a top-off or an oil change.
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Monitor Your Coolant Levels
Your engine must remain cool while in operation. Without proper coolant levels in your radiator, your engine could overheat and seize up. One recommendation is to have your coolant levels topped off during each scheduled oil change.
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Keep an Eye on Your Temperature Gauge
Your vehicle’s temperature gauge or dashboard warning lights will warn you of an overheating engine. If you find conditions heating up:
- Stop driving, pull over
- Lower your windows
- Turn AC off, turn on the heat
- Reach out to a nearby mechanic
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Inspect Your Hoses
Even excellent coolant levels are useless if your vehicle has damaged delivery hoses. The heat can easily damage your hoses. So, during the summer, we recommend checking your vehicle’s hoses for signs of necessary repair.
If you find that your hoses are cracked, leaking, or peeling, make an appointment with a Kwik Kar near you or a quick replacement.
Stay Cool and Safer This Summer With Kwik Kar Automotive Services
Kwik Kar Automotive Lube and Service Center is dedicated to helping Texans keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely throughout the year. An overheating engine is an issue that can happen at any time. However, with regular maintenance from a Kwik Kar near you, it’s a problem that’s avoidable.
Schedule a maintenance appointment with us today or simply drive into one of our garages in your city. We always accept on-the-spot appointments.
