If your vehicle starts overheating, it’s important to take the right steps.

Although today’s vehicles are equipped with sophisticated cooling systems to prevent them from overheating, it still happens from time to time. And, the steps you take immediately after your vehicle starts overheating can make a huge difference in the repair bill you’ll be faced with down the road. What you do immediately when your vehicle starts overheating could mean the difference between a $20 repair and a $2,000 repair.

In case your vehicle overheats, it’s important to have the right supplies, including:

• Coolant
• Motor Oil
• A Towel
• A Basic Tool Kit
• Heavy-Duty Gloves

What to do when your engine starts overheating:

#1. Turn on the heat

Although it seems counterintuitive, turning on the heat is one of the best things you can do when your vehicle starts overheating. Why? Because it pulls heat out of your engine and into the cabin of your vehicle. In some cases, turning on the heater alone may be enough to stop it from overheating. You’ll know if it has worked when the temperature gauge is in a neutral position or if the warming light turns off.

#2. Pull your vehicle over

If turning on the heater hasn’t fixed the problem, then you’ll need to find a safe place to pull your vehicle over. Then, turn off the engine. This is the safest and most effective way to cool your vehicle’s engine.

#3. Let the engine cool down

Before you open the hood to investigate what is causing your vehicle to overheat, you need to let the engine cool down. The steam from an overheated engine can injure, causing severe burns. You’ll want to give your engine at least 15 minutes to cool down. One great way to test how hot the engine is is to release the hood but leave it down. When you do finally open the hood, stand to the side to avoid any steam that still may be trapped.

#4. Inspect the coolant hoses

Hose problems are some of the most common reasons vehicles overheat, so once you pop open the hood, do a quick inspection of the radiator hoses. If they are leaking, you may notice small amounts of coolant around the hoses, or possibly green residue in the absence of liquid. You should also keep an eye out for burst, disconnected or clogged hoses.

#5. Refill the coolant

If all of the hoses seem to be in order, check the coolant levels by removing the radiator cap. The cap might be hot, so take the time to make sure it’s cool before touching it. If the coolant is low, refill it.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your engine should be cool enough to drive your vehicle to the nearest auto repair shop or to your home. However, you should make sure that you keep a close eye on your vehicle’s engine temperature gauge. If the temperature starts rising again, you’ll need to pull over and turn off your vehicle again.

Please keep in mind that these steps aren’t a permanent fix for an overheating engine. If you’ve read our previous blog series, then you already know that there are many different things that can cause your engine to overheat, and fixing the problem for good may require new parts or professional repairs.

Upgrade your vehicle with silicone coolant hoses today!

If your vehicle is prone to overheating due to leaks or damage to the coolant hoses, it’s time to consider upgrading to silicone. Silicone coolant hoses withstand the heat in your engine better than the standard rubber coolant hoses used in most vehicles, and they aren’t subject to the same problems.

At Flex Technologies, we’re proud to be your premier source for silicone hoses, and we offer a variety of options that make perfect radiator hoses. However, if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can always get the custom silicone coolant hoses you need with Flex Technologies. Our custom hoses are made to the highest standards of quality, and they are always tested and retested for reliability and quality. You won’t find a better silicone hose manufacturer anywhere else!

Shop our silicone coolant hoses online today.