Q&A for How to Stop an Engine from Overheating

It can be. Unfortunately, overheating is the main cause of catastrophic engine damage.

Get your engine inspected when you notice changes in the heating system of your vehicle.

Definitely not! You should always try to stop your car as soon as safely possible if you notice that your engine is running warmer than usual. In the meantime, turn off the AC and turn on the heater, which can help move some engine heat out of the engine. Also, reduce RPMs as much as possible, and avoid driving up hills.

No, you want to do the opposite. Put the heat on full blast to draw it away from the engine.

Coolant is basically a mix between water and ethylene glycol, with a few other things mixed in, including corrosion inhibitors and a green dye. The green dye is only there so that, if you see the coolant spewing out of the car, you can easily identify it.

No, just the opposite. The thermostat keeps the water from the cooling radiator from flowing into the engine and cooling it until the temperature reaches a certain point usually between 160 to 195 degrees. If the thermostat becomes plugged or stops opening when it should it prevents water from circulating and cooling, the engine causing it to overheat..

Most of cars are come with warning sign 'H' ,which stands for hot. Be warned if you see that indication.

The first thing to check would be the thermostat -- that is normally the problem. You can try removing the thermostat and driving without it to see if that's it. If so, just replace it. Next, check to see if the radiator fan is coming on when it starts to get hot; there might be a fuse/relay issue or the fan motor may have gone out. As for the water pump, if you open the radiator cap (while the engine is cool) and let the engine warm up, you should be able to see the water circulating, which would indicate that the water pump is working.

Yes. Water mixed with oil will cause the moving parts inside (bearings, rings etc.) to not be lubricated and protected properly; it will damage crank bearings, rod bearings, pistons and cam bearings. The coolant/water/anti-freeze mixed into oil is caused by a bad gasket somewhere (head gasket or manifold gasket etc.) or from a cracked/broken engine block or intake manifold. Do not drive the vehicle if the oil is contaminated.

Your coolant fan could be cooling too slowly. Take your car to a mechanic to test it.

It sounds like your cooking system thermostat is stuck shut, preventing water from flowing through the engine. Try replacing the thermostat.

You only add water when the coolant you have says to add water or if you are trying to do your own percentage of coolant to water.

It could be too much oil or a rusty piston. Try removing the spark plug and checking for no spark with a spark tester.

The radiator internals may be clogged. If your car\truck has rear wheel drive and has a fan driven by the belt, the fan clutch may be bad -- when hot, try to turn the fan by hand. Loose = bad fan clutch. Second cooling fan that runs when "extra hot" or with AC running may not be running.

No, especially not your radiator cap. Your cooling system is supposed to be under pressure when it runs.

Check for leaks on the hoses, radiator, and freeze plugs on the sides of the engine block. Replace the thermostat, have the coolant system flushed and refilled, check to make sure the water pump is operating correctly, check or replace the fan thermostat/coolant sensor if your vehicle is equipped with one, check to make sure your fan(s) on the radiator are still working, and check to make sure your engine oil is clean and filled and that your engine is properly timed and tuned.

Check for coolant system leaks.

They check for leaks. They check the water pump. They flush the cooling system. They replace the coolant.

Your thermostat or gauge may be broken. Bring it to a mechanic to get it checked.

Yes. Oil lubricates the engine and helps prevent overheating.

Your car could have the wrong grade of oil or engine coolant. Check the manufacturer's guide. A blocked radiator core could also cause this, or a faulty thermostat or water pump.

The boiling point of water is less than the boiling point of radiator coolant, so naturally water will make the engine overheat at a lesser temperature than coolant would. Of course, you may have a part issue, but I do not know enough details to tell you.

If you have no leak in the radiator and the radiator is full, it could be that your water pump isn't working.

Your car isn't running hot because there is coolant still in the reservoir container. Coolant must be kept at a certain level to insure it doesn't overheat or run hot. When your car cools down, look at the reservoir container and add coolant to the appropriate level line. Your add coolant light should go off.

Yes. Make sure to use distilled water as a temporary fix -- tap water can cause corrosion inside the engine. Once you get coolant, drain the whole system before pouring in the new coolant.

Yes. but don't use that as a permanent fix. It will more or less break the coolant if you use block seal as a permanent fix.

Drive carefully onto the side of the road out of other traffic and turn the vehicle off with the handbrake on. Then turn the ignition back to the IGN position. This will allow the fans to be on to further cool the radiator. Be careful when opening the bonnet in case of steam.

If it’s 100% water, it’s evaporating. If it’s 50% water and 50% coolant, you should take it to a mechanic for a diagnosis.

I doubt that an older clutch would have any effect on a car overheating. Overheating is affected by outside temperature, engine RPMs, thermostat opening/closing temperature, water pump, coolant amount, and the timing of the spark.

It depends on the make and model of your car, but it will usually be located at the end of the upper radiator hose on the engine.