There’s never a good time for your car to overheat. In fact, it usually happens at the worst possible time, right? And it could mean your vehicle needs serious auto repair in Philadelphia, PA. If you notice the temperature gauge rising toward the hot side, you shouldn’t continue to drive. Pull over so you don’t damage the engine by overheating it. Rather than risk expensive repairs later, it’s best to get things in line right away. Here are a few things that could be wrong if your vehicle has overheated.
Coolant That Isn’t Circulating
The coolant within the engine is responsible for keeping the temperature at the right level. This mix of water and antifreeze prevents the engine from freezing in cold months and overheating in hot months. If there’s a crack or leak, it can leak out or evaporate completely, which means there won’t be anything left to cool the engine and it will overheat. If there are hoses that are broken and not allowing the coolant in, the same can happen.
Leaking Fluids
If the antifreeze levels are always low, even when you add more, it’s likely because there is a leak in the system somewhere. You may or may not know where, but before you experience overheating on the side of the road, it’s best to get repairs done quickly.
Hoses Need To Be Replaced
Hoses can wear out and they can get blocked or even detach. If they aren’t blocked entirely, but only in part, they can still prevent the proper coolant levels from circulating to the right places. Hoses aren’t hard or expensive to replace, but if ignored, they can cause large enough issues.
Engine Malfunctions
If the coolant levels are normal and working okay, there can be serious engine issues that you need to address as soon as possible. They will only get worse if you let them sit so get them inspected as soon as you can get into the repair shop.
Reacting To An Overheating Situation
It can be very scary when your engine overheats, but it’s important to pull over and turn off the air conditioning right away. Instead, turn on the heater to blow some of the heat away from the engine of the vehicle. Try putting your car in neutral and then revving the engine to make the fan and water pump work fast and pull air into the radiator to cool down the engine. You can also open the hood to release heat and let air circulate, but be careful of possible hot steam that might come out.
If you need help with your engine, whether you suspect it’s going to overheat, or it already has, contact the specialists in auto repair in Philadelphia, PA at Schafer’s Auto Center. Call us at (215) 755-1270for an appointment or to ask questions. You can also visit with us in person or bring the vehicle to 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148. SAR technicians are here to help however we can.
