Can You Drive When the Coolant Warning Light Comes On?

[VanSophia]

You should not drive when the coolant warning light comes on. If this happens, do not panic—immediately pull over and check whether it is caused by low coolant levels. If so, simply top it up to the normal level. At the same time, closely monitor the engine temperature during driving. If the temperature rises too high, stop the vehicle immediately and wait for assistance. When the antifreeze warning light comes on, you must stop the car promptly. Wait for at least ten minutes after the engine cools down before opening the radiator cap to inspect it. The car's cooling system relies on coolant—the engine generates a large amount of heat during combustion, which is transferred to the coolant. The coolant circulates and releases heat when passing through the radiator. If necessary, the fan will activate to blow air over the radiator, speeding up the cooling process. There are two scenarios when the coolant warning light comes on: 1. Simply low coolant levels—this usually occurs right after starting the engine, and adding coolant will resolve the issue. 2. It happens while driving, which is likely caused by coolant boiling.