An engine can theoretically overheat at any time. As we approach the hottest time of year, that threat is magnified. When your engine gets too hot, it can sometimes result in smoke coming from under your hood and even cause a complete burnout. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your engine from overheating or prevent it from doing so altogether. Check out some of our tips below.
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Five ways to stop your engine from overheating
1.) Park in the shade
When possible, stay parked in the shade. Of course, sometimes parking in direct sunlight is unavoidable. If, however, there are trees or indoor parking nearby, park there. Even if your engine isn’t running, it can get too hot just by being in the sun for too long. Even if the air temperature is over 90°F, your car will be noticeably cooler just by being parked in the shade.
2.) Turn the heat on
Huh? What? Yes, it sounds insane but if you turn the heat on for a short amount of time, it can draw hot air away from your engine. Obviously, this won’t help you feel any cooler, but it can certainly cool off the engine. If it’s extremely hot in your car, use this as a last resort. Don’t put yourself or anyone else in your car in danger of heat stroke. If your engine is clearly overheating, though, this can be a useful method.
3.) Add engine coolant
You should do this regardless when it gets hotter out. Coolant does exactly what it sounds like it does. It keeps your engine at a stable temperature. Coolant will help to make sure your engine doesn’t overheat in the first place. Note: NEVER add coolant to a hot engine. Wait for it to cool before removing the cap to the coolant reservoir and adding the fluid.
4.) Get the coolant system flushed
Bring your vehicle to INFINITI Guam and let our technicians flush the coolant fluid. Even if you keep it at the appropriate levels, the coolant can become dirty which negatively impacts its effectiveness. Typically, you should get your coolant flushed once every 40,000 miles or so.
5.) Consider replacing your battery
Car batteries aren’t cheap, but older ones can cause your engine to work harder than it should have to. Get your battery checked out by a professional and if they recommend replacing it, consider doing so. A new battery will allow your engine to work less and, therefore, keep its temperature down.
