How to prevent overheating
If you're not a car guy, chances are, you might not be familiar with the gauge cluster of your car. Fair enough. But if you do find yourself in the middle of car trouble, spare a thought and be familiar with the temperature gauge. It's a simple gauge with a needle that should sit in its middle position once the car is warmed up. If you see the needle making moves towards the RED end of the scale, be on guard.Some modern ones actually got rid of the temperature gauge in exchange a warning light.
Driving in tropical weather can be a nightmare especially with heavy traffic. It's definitely a hassle to be hanging around by the side of the road waiting for a rescue vehicle because the engine has overheated and you are clueless on what caused it. Let me run through some important points on how to detect the vital signs of an overheating engine and preventive measures and remedies.
First things first; everyone knows that prevention is better than the waiting for a part to get damaged. Engine overheating is expensive when it gets out of hand. It is best to keep your car in prime condition, which you can achieve by adhering to a few simple rules that demonstrate you're a responsible car owner.
Firstly, it's really important to know how to check the fluid levels in your car. If it's the cooling system of the car, the Radiator Cap and the Coolant Reservoir is where you should check. Check the level of the coolant, a liquid that works by raising the boiling point of the water, thereby allowing it to carry more heat away from the engine. These checks are elementary, as long as you are taught well. Maintaining the coolant level isn't difficult and doesn't take up much time at all. Most cars have a white plastic coolant overflow tank next to the radiator, with markings on the side to indicate the correct and low level of liquid. For your safety,check your coolant level when the car is cold; never do it when the engine's hot. Make sure that you have a gallon of coolant ready in your garage in case the coolant level is low. Better yet, let the gas boys check the coolant level when you go in for gas.
Secondly, you should maintain your car regularly and stick to your car's scheduled periodic check. Regular trips to the mechanic will help identify potential problems that if left undetected, like overheating, will lead to engine damage. Cooling System leaks, faulty and weak cooling fans, thermostat malfunctions or deformed radiator hoses that are about to go, are all common causes of overheated engines. Your mechanic will spot these during a service if you make the effort to have your car checked over regularly.
It's important to know when your car will most likely give you problems so that you can pre-empt this, and hopefully stop it from happening. Service Centers check the mileage of your car and will suggest that you change parts ahead to avoid breakdown. This is what you call "preventive maintenance." Get some service data of your car from the net, just so you'll avoid getting ripped-off. If in case a part is due for replacement even if it's not damage yet but has surpassed the mileage it's designed to work well, replace it.
Although engines rarely overheat in modern cars, it's still perfectly possible, so you shouldn't be negligent even in a brand-new car. If you find yourself in tight traffic jams, you should be especially alert to the warning signs of overheating. Learn the warning indicators in the dashboard. This is obviously very basic yet not a lot of drivers know these warning signs on the dash.
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