When you start thinking about different ways to improve your car, there might be a few things you can do in order to ensure a safe, stable ride. For starters, you should think about starting to focus on learning basic at-home auto service techniques, such as changing your own oil or replacing your auto filter.
By learning about car care, you can empower yourself with knowledge and learn more about how to manage different aspects of the trade, which can be incredibly helpful. Check out this website for awesome tips and tricks that talk about auto service that can pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
Have you been driving down the road and noticed smoke coming from under the hood of your vehicle? This is a clear sign that your engine is overheating, and it can happen to anyone. However, you may be wondering why it is happening and if there is anything you can do to fix it.
Coolant Hose Cracks
One of the common reasons for engine overheating is due to some sort of leak in the vehicle's coolant system. You'll want to pull off to the side of the road, pop open the hood, and let the car cool down. Then you start investigating the coolant lines, which are the larger lines that go between the radiator and the engine. Look for a crack in these lines that is allowing coolant to leave the system and drip onto the road.
Thankfully, a cracked coolant line is easy to repair, as long as you do not continue to drive your car and put unnecessary strain on the engine. Have your vehicle towed to a local auto shop to repair the coolant lines.
Low Coolant Levels
If the coolant line is in good condition, you may have low coolant levels in your vehicle. You'll likely notice a dashboard light go off indicating that the temperature of the engine is starting to get too high, which is indicated by a steady light rather than a flashing light. You'll want to pull off to the side of the road and let your vehicle cool off for at least 15 minutes before you investigate the coolant. If the engine is still too hot, the coolant in the system will be hot and pressurized, which can burn you as you unscrew the cap to the coolant expansion tank. Coolant is easy to top off if it is running low. Try putting in more coolant until it is up to the fill line, then continue driving. Hopefully, the engine temperature light remains off.
Bad Cooling Fan
Your engine is going to get really hot if the cooling fan is not working properly. If the engine temperature warning light goes off and you have plenty of coolant, the problem could be from the fan not spinning. The first thing to do is to check the fuse box and make sure that the fuse for the cooling fan is not blown. If so, replace the fuse with a new one and see if that fixes the problem.
If you notice similar issues with your vehicle, visit an automotive repair service for assistance.