The dog days of summer are nearly upon us, and the El Paso heat is about to unleash its full force. June is the hottest month of the year for our area with a blistering 96-degree average temperature. As such, it’s time to make the necessary preparations – for both you and your vehicle.
The moment your car begins to overheat can be scary, and the aftermath is frightening in its own way. An overheated engine can cause severe damage to your vehicle. It can also suddenly strand you in the middle of nowhere with triple-digit temperatures baring down on you. Today, Casa Lincoln examines signs that signify overheating and the procedures you should follow if your engine does overheat.
Watch for the Signs
Your engine often communicates with you through unorthodox sounds to let you know that maintenance is needed. Likewise, it will often give you a heads-up before it starts to overheat. Four signs that your engine is about to overheat include:
- Steam resembling smoke leaking from under the hood.
- An uncommonly sweet smell emanating from the engine.
- The engine temperature gauge needle spikes towards the red.
- The “Check Engine” light or a similar indicator flashes on.
Steps to Take When Your Engine Overheats
1. Turn Off the Air Conditioner and Turn Up the Heat
We know this seems wildly counterintuitive – but it’s the first thing you should immediately do upon sensing your engine overheating. Turning off the air conditioning helps reduce stress on the engine, while turning up the cabin’s heat helps divert heat away from the engine.
2. Keep Calm, Find a Spot to Pull Over, & Shut the Engine Off
The most important thing to remember is not to panic. Your brand-new Lincoln Navigator is not about to imminently explode; by panicking, you’re only putting yourself at greater risk of making a mistake and causing irreparable damage. Continue to slowly drive until you find a safe spot to pull over. Once parked, shut off the engine and check the temperature gauge, which should begin shifting back into a normal range as the engine cools down.
3. Determine Your Plan of Action
You need to get your vehicle to a nearby garage – ideally our top-of-the-line Service Center, though it will vary on your location. Contact your preferred roadside assistance provider and get your vehicle towed, if necessary. If your engine has cooled and you believe you can get it to the nearest repair shop yourself, carefully restart the engine and resume driving. As you do, continue to monitor the temperature gauge. If it begins rising again, pull over and allow the system to cool once more.
Put Your Engine in the Hands of Casa Lincoln
You’ve dealt with your overheated engine properly, but there’s still the question of why it overheated in the first place. There are several factors that could have caused your vehicle to overheat; a cooling system leak, faulty water pump, or low engine oil level are all possible culprits.
To maximize your engine’s health, schedule your service at Casa Lincoln. Our fully trained team of technicians will diagnose your engine, in addition to providing oil changes, brake inspections, and more. It may be baking outside, but we never let the heat get to us here at Casa Lincoln.
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