What to Do When the Engine Overheats in Summer?

[Maya]

Let the engine idle and run for a while, and the temperature will drop. To prevent engine overheating alarms during summer trips, which can disrupt smooth travel, car owners should regularly check the cooling system. Before a trip, inspect the radiator. If the engine overheats during the journey, do not turn it off immediately. Instead, turn off some energy-consuming and overloaded devices, such as the air conditioning, and let the engine idle for about three minutes before shutting it down. Then, get out of the car, open the hood to dissipate heat, and conduct a thorough inspection and handling. The specific reasons causing abnormal water temperature are as follows: 1. Insufficient coolant: Before driving in summer, check the coolant. If you run out of coolant on a highway or in a remote area where it's hard to buy more, you can temporarily use water as a substitute. However, when adding water, be very careful not to open the radiator cap immediately after stopping the car. The temperature inside is very high, and the pressure is significant. Opening the cap immediately can cause hot steam to burst out, potentially scalding your face. The correct approach is to wait until the radiator temperature slightly decreases before slowly opening the cap to add water. 2. Dirty radiator: The radiator has many cooling fins with small holes. Dust, mud, lint, and other impurities can easily adhere to them, clogging the holes and reducing the radiator's cooling efficiency. This situation doesn't have much impact in winter since the ambient temperature is low, and direct cooling is sufficient. However, in summer, when the temperature difference between the radiator and the external environment decreases, cooling slows down, making it easy for the water temperature to become too high.

[OAshlyn]

Last month I encountered this situation on the highway. Seeing the temperature gauge spike into the red, I immediately turned on the hazard lights, pulled over, and shut off the engine. Never open the hood right away—the steam inside can cause severe burns. Wait about 20 minutes for it to cool down, then slowly unscrew the radiator cap to check the coolant level. In my case, it was a leaking radiator, and I had to temporarily top it up with bottled water to make it to the repair shop. I recommend cleaning the radiator grille of insect debris before long summer trips—blocked airflow is a major cause of overheating. Keeping a jug of purified water in the trunk is practical, as it’s less likely to leave deposits than tap water in emergencies. Older cars especially need regular checks on the water pump and thermostat—their failure can cripple the entire cooling system. If the radiator boils over three or more times, don’t hesitate to call a tow truck; saving a few hundred bucks could cost you the entire engine.

[HarmonyMarie]

I've been commuting by car for nine years. In summer heat, there are mainly three scenarios to handle: turn off the AC and turn on the heater when stuck in traffic - it's hot but cools down quickly; monitor the coolant temperature gauge fluctuations during highway driving and immediately reduce speed to 60 mph if any abnormality is detected. After parking, don't turn off the engine immediately - first check if the electric fan is running. If not, it might be a fuse or relay issue. Last time my car's fan was stuck, I simply removed debris to fix it. Many people overlook radiator sealing - for cars over three years old, check the radiator cap's pressure valve as a failed valve lowers the coolant's boiling point. Before summer, spend about a hundred bucks to replace with long-life antifreeze, which withstands heat better than regular water-based coolant. When all else fails, calling insurance for jump-start assistance is the most reliable solution.

[Kara]

Last time I encountered a high-temperature warning during a road trip, I promptly exited the highway at the nearest exit. I kept the engine idling to allow the water pump to circulate and cool down, and opened the hood to speed up heat dissipation. Upon inspection, I found the heater hose had burst and made a temporary fix with tape. A reminder to everyone: during summer long-distance trips, don’t cut corners by using tap water as coolant—it can easily cause scaling and blockages. Modified car enthusiasts should pay extra attention; if you’ve tuned the ECU to increase power, you must upgrade the cooling system. Many cars now come with auto start-stop, which automatically deactivates during high temperatures. Observe the combination of dashboard warning lights to diagnose issues: if only the coolant temperature light is on, it might be a thermostat failure; if it’s accompanied by the charging light, it’s likely a water pump problem.

[DiClayton]

I remember being totally panicked the first time I encountered an engine overheating. Later, I learned to handle it calmly. First, find a level spot to park, let the engine idle for ten minutes before shutting it off. Never touch the radiator before the coolant temperature drops—I burned my hand once. After it cools down, check the fluid level marks in the overflow tank. Keep a bottle of distilled water in the spare tire well for emergencies. During my recent maintenance, the mechanic said clogged radiator fins with poplar fluff can also cause overheating, so now I clean them quarterly with a high-pressure air gun. Beginners often overlook leaks in the washer fluid reservoir, which can seep into circuits and cause electric fan failure. For friends who just had repairs, remember to bleed the cooling system—trapped air bubbles can also lead to overheating.