This post is part of a sponsored automotive series. All opinions are mine.
Is it just me or does it seem like summertime seems to be the time when you see a lot of vehicles overheating? You may not have noticed before, but if you take note now, you’ll likely notice that it’s more prevalent this time of year. Our New York Alfa Romeo dealer friends broke it down for us.
First things first, why is it that you see cars overheat most during hot summer months? It’s probably as easy as you’re thinking. Not only is the weather hot, but the roads can get even hotter. When the hot sun is beating down on the dark surface all day, it can reach temps of 140-150 degrees F if not more. With this being the case, your engine being so close to that pavement can heat up real quick.
Ultimately though, a car overheats when your engine isn’t able to stay at an acceptable temperate. Makes sense, right? Typically this just means that you need to make sure your vehicle has enough coolant at all times to ensure proper cooling.
Although hot weather is typically the reason for a vehicle to overheat, it’s not always the case. So it’s important to make sure your vehicle is having regular maintenance where they can check that there isn’t a leak or that you don’t need a coolant flush.
You’ll be able to tell if your engine is overheating by looking at your engine’s temperature gauge on your dashboard. Typically your temperature gauge should fall somewhere in the middle of cold and hot while you’re driving. It’s not a cause for concern if it’s a little bit higher, especially if it creeps up while you’re running the engine and even more critical if it reaches the red zone.
So what can you do if you’re in traffic and you see that your car is or might be overheating? First off, immediately turn off your air conditioner. Roll down your windows and crank up your heat and blower on high. This will draw heat from the engine and also help to cool your vehicle down. If things are still heating up, you’ll want to pull over and prop open your hood to let things cool down a bit. DO NOT open your radiator cap.
Hopefully you never have to go through having your vehicle overheat, and with the tips mentioned above you have a good chance of preventing it! Stay cool now.
Sarah
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