PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How do you know your car is overheating?
I was driving home from my soccer game the other night when my car started to smell hot. Luckily I was almost home, but I’m wondering if maybe my engine was overheating. How can I tell?
Laura Salvas · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yikes! Not the best way to cool off and relax after soccer. And you’re probably onto something as your car smelling hot is just one of the ways you can tell if your engine is overheating.
Here’s how you know your car is overheating:
- Hot or sweet smell: The oil in the engine could be super hot and stinky, or your coolant could be leaking and causing the engine to overheat.
- Steam: You might think there’s a fire under your hood, but it’s potentially just evaporating coolant. If it’s leaking, it may be turning to steam instead of cooling your engine.
- Trouble accelerating: An overheated engine won’t work as it should, and it might start to crawl like it’s hot and dehydrated in a desert.
- Temperature gauge: This gauge is located on your instrument panel and has a little hand that points toward blue or a “C” for a cool engine and red or an “H” for a hot one. If it’s stuck on the red, then your engine might be too hot.
- Thumping or ticking: Your car can make these sounds if your coolant or oil is reaching too high a temperature.
If you have an engine that’s overheating, it’s important you pull over
as soon as it’s safe
to do so and turn the engine off. You’ll probably want to call a mechanic as driving with an overheated engine can cause damage. Ensuring you have the best
car insurance
is important, too. If you want to save money but don’t know where to start, Jerry
can help. Jerry compares policies from top insurers to provide you with personalized quotes. Jerry will even help you switch policies and could save you an average of $887 a year. View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
Browse More Content
Insurance for Your Car
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
