Your car’s engine temperature warning light lights up on your dashboard when your engine is overheating—whether it is caused by a low amount of coolant or another issue.
It’s never fun to suddenly see a warning light appear on your dashboard while you are driving. And if it’s not a light that you commonly see, it can be stressful to not know what it means right away or how serious the problem is.
To help you decode the meaning of your dashboard lights, car insurance
broker and comparison app Jerry
has compiled a guide to answer all your questions when a new warning light appears. This article will explain what your car’s engine temperature warning light looks like, what it means, and what you should do when it comes on. 
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What is the engine temperature warning light on my dashboard?
The engine temperature warning light is designed to warn you when your engine temperature is too high. It’s easy to ignore this warning when it appears, but it is an indication that your engine is overheating, which is a serious problem.
What does the engine temperature warning light look like?
The engine temperature warning light looks like a red thermometer with two wavy lines at the bottom. Depending on your car’s make and model, you may also see:
A warning message saying ‘TEMP’
A warning message saying ‘ENGINE OVERHEATING’
A blue or green engine temperature symbol when you start your car, which does not mean that your engine is overheating
What does the engine temperature warning light mean?
If you see a red thermometer symbol on your dashboard while you are driving, this means that there is a problem with the engine coolant system. Don’t keep driving once you are alerted that your engine temperature is too high or you can cause expensive engine damage.
If the engine temperature warning light flashes and disappears when you first start your car, it’s called a bulb check and is not an indication that there is an engine problem. A bulb check lets you know that your dashboard lights are working so that you don’t miss any important warnings.
In some vehicles, the engine temperature warning light will also indicate when your engine oil is colder than its optimal temperature. This warning typically is the same thermometer symbol but with a blue or green light. If you are alerted that your engine oil temperature is low, wait for your car to run for a few minutes before you start driving to warm the engine up.
How to turn off the engine temperature warning light
If you get a warning that your engine is overheating, you must pull over to the nearest safe location and turn your car off. After this, you should:
Allow the engine to cool down for at least 20 minutes (or an hour if possible)
Open your car’s hood and find the engine coolant reservoir. If you are unsure of where it is, your car’s manual will help you find it
Using a rag to prevent steam from burning your hand if the engine is still hot, unscrew the cap and check the amount of coolant inside
If the coolant appears low, add water or more coolant only after the engine has cooled down
While refilling your engine coolant is sometimes an easy fix to keep your engine from overheating, you should take your car—or get it towed—to a mechanic if:
You don’t have water or coolant on hand or don’t feel comfortable filling your coolant yourself
You have persistent issues with your engine overheating even after you refill the coolant. This can be a symptom of a leak or other issue with the coolant pump or lines
The engine temperature warning light stays on when the engine is not overheating. This can indicate that the thermometer in your engine is faulty
How to find affordable car insurance
Your car’s engine temperature warning light keeps you from damaging your engine, which could cost a lot of money to repair or replace. With coverage from the right car insurance policy, you can be protected from having to pay for other unexpected car costs too.
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