Steps to Dealing With and Overheating Engine

To keep your engine protected, follow these tips from ALF Marketing in Halfway when dealing with an overheating engine.

How Your Engine Keeps Cool

When you turn on your vehicle and get your engine working, the engine is typically cold. As it continues to work, it heats up to its ideal operating temperature. However, after working for a while, your engine can heat up too much and potentially suffer damages. Fluids in your vehicle, such as your engine oil and coolant, flow through different areas, helping keep temperatures under the hood under control. It's the cooling system's job to ensure that your engine doesn't overheat. The way it takes care of this is by sending coolant through different hoses and components, helping to remove heat from the engine. If there is a problem in the cooling system, this can lead to serious engine damage.

Issues That Can Lead to An Engine Overheating

Because the cooling system is made up of many components, there are quite a few things that can cause a malfunction in the cooling system. Some of these issues are quite small and easy to fix, while other components may need more work. These are some of the many potential factors affecting your cooling system.

1. Leaks in the cooling system. Having a leak in the cooling system is one of the most common cause of overheating engines. Leaks can happen in the hoses, the radiator, the thermostat, and other areas. If you have a small leak, you may notice your coolant level keeps dropping. If this is the case, get the leak fixed before it has the chance to cause damage to your engine.
2. Using the wrong coolant. Different vehicles require different types of coolant and even coolant mixes. If you're flushing and replacing your coolant, be sure to check your owner's manual before putting any coolant in your car.
3. Blocks in the cooling system. Blockages can occur in a number of areas in your cooling system and can be caused by rust, dirt, and other debris that has made its ways into your coolant. A blockage can impede the flow of coolant, leaving your engine exposed to high temperatures.
4. Radiator issues. When your coolant is flowing well and the cooling system is properly doing its job, the radiator is where the coolant goes to cool down. If there is a problem with the radiator, your coolant won't be able to cool off, leading to higher engine temperatures.
5. Fan issues. If you're not too familiar with the items under your hood you may have never noticed the fans working to reduce operating temperatures. If one of your fans is broken or damaged, temperatures under the hood can begin to skyrocket, leaving your engine in danger of overheating.

Another great way to keep your engine fully protected is with a full synthetic oil change in Halfway. To find the best synthetic oil for your vehicle, contact ALF Marketing in Halfway at (301) 416-0575. Don't forget to check out our online shop for a full range of AMSOIL Oil and other products for your vehicle.

What to Do If Your Engine is Overheating

If you've never had to deal with an overheating engine, know that taking care of it right away is the key to reducing the possibility of your engine suffering costly damage. Follow these steps if you find yourself dealing with a too hot engine.

1. Pull of the road. If you notice your temperature gauge reaching unsafe levels or your coolant indicator light starts flashing, pull over as soon as possible to avoid causing damage to your engine.
2. Let the engine cool. Once you've pulled over into a safe spot, pop open your hood and leave it propped open. This will help the heat escape your engine, allowing it to cool much faster. Do not touch anything under your hood while your car is still hot.
3. Check your coolant. Once things have cooled down, proceed to check on your coolant. If the coolant reservoir is still hot, wait for it to cool down before opening it. Opening it while it's still hot can cause the lid to blow off, leaving your in danger of getting burned by hot steam and liquids. If your coolant is low, top it off before starting your engine again.
4. Get your vehicle inspected. Even if your were able to get your car to cool down and your engine working safely again, you still need to get your car inspected. Keep in mind that cars don't just overheat randomly; overheating is a sign that there is an issues somewhere. Remember that a small leak can turn into a much larger issues when you're least expecting it.
5. Be prepared for overheating. Once you've gotten your car taken care of, be sure you're always prepared to deal with an overheating engine. One way to do so is by always carrying extra coolant in your car. You can also check on your coolant level monthly just to make sure there are no leaks or other issues affecting your fluids.

The Best Synthetic Oil Change Near Me in Halfway

For the best engine protection, rely on synthetic oil. To find the best synthetic oil for your vehicle, contact ALF Marketing in Halfway. To find the right oil for all of your engines, check out our full range of AMSOIL products in our online shop. Give us a call at (301) 416-0575 for more information about our products or to place an order.