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How do you stop your car from overheating?

I had a scary incident a couple of days ago where my car overheated while driving my kids home from gymnastics. I managed to make it home okay but I feel like I probably should have done more in the moment. How can I stop my car from overheating?

avatar
Laura Salvas · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Anything going wrong with your car is extra worrisome when your kids are in the back seat. It’s understandable you weren’t sure what to do, and you’re right that there are several things you can do to stop your engine from overheating.
If you are driving and you think your engine is getting too hot, here’s how you stop your car from overheating:
  1. Turn off the air conditioning. The air conditioning makes your engine work harder, so shutting it off releases some tension.
  2. Crank the heat. The heat actually draws heat away from your engine, releasing hot air from under the hood.
  3. Park the car when stopped. Keeping your foot on the brake adds to the problem. Instead of staying braked when stopped, park your car and rev your engine to help airflow.
  4. Add some coolant. If you’ve got some in your trunk, you could check if your coolant level is low and top it up, but best to let your car cool down before doing so as it might be really hot under the hood.
  5. Pull over
    when and where it’s safe
    . If the engine keeps getting hotter, pull over and either wait for the engine to cool down or
    call a tow truck
    . Either way, head straight to the mechanic because something’s got to be fixed.
Driving an overheated car can cause major damage to the engine, so even though these tips might help stop your car from overheating, you should stop driving as soon as possible and have the problem diagnosed.
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