Posted August 3, 2013 by Ali's Woodinville
Puget Sound summers are mild most days, but a stretch of hot weather can still catch drivers off guard, and late summer often has plenty of warm days left. We want to keep our customers in Woodinville, Bothell and Kenmore in the know about how to protect against an overheating vehicle.
(Yes, we regularly see drivers from Kenmore and Bothell. It’s just a short drive to our shop.)
It’s a terrible thing to see a good car need a whole new engine because of heat, and it’s worse knowing it could have been avoided. Here are tips that could save you thousands of dollars.
1. Consider Replacing an Older Battery
If your battery is three years old or more, have it tested and consider replacing it as preventive maintenance. Batteries get stressed in extreme temperatures, and the older they get, the more stressed they get.
2. Have Your Cooling System Checked
Have your cooling system checked by a mechanic (by Ali’s Woodinville Auto Repair, of course) if it hasn’t been looked at in two years. This system is critical to keeping the engine cool and the air conditioning working right. Let it break for lack of simple maintenance, and it isn’t cheap to fix or replace.
3. Know What to Do When the Temperature Light Comes On
If you’re stuck in traffic and the temperature light comes on or the gauge climbs into the danger zone, turn off the air conditioner right away and open the windows. If the light stays on, turn the heat to its hottest setting with the fan on high. This pulls some of the trapped heat out of the cooling system. If the light still stays on, pull over, stop driving and call roadside assistance. Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine. If the light goes off, you should be okay to drive the car to a mechanic.
In fact, any time you’re driving in hot weather and traffic starts to slow, it’s a good idea to go easy on the air conditioning, or at least keep a sharp eye on the temperature gauge. It’s harder for your car to stay cool at slow speeds or at idle.
4. Start the Summer with Fresh Coolant
Make sure your radiator has fresh coolant to start the summer, not just water, and have the radiator checked specifically for corrosion. We don’t know why this isn’t tip number one. If you notice leaks in the system, or you’re having trouble keeping enough coolant in there, get your car in to us to have the system examined. It’s well worth the precautionary visit.
5. Check Your Tire Pressure and Tread
Hot weather is hard on tires that are underinflated or worn, and a blowout at highway speed can cause a crash. Check your tire pressure and tread before a long summer drive. This isn’t really an overheating engine tip, but it’s an important hot weather tip.
6. Keep a Gallon of Water in the Car
If you drive long stretches on a summer trip, keep a gallon jug of water somewhere in the car. It could come in handy if you have a radiator leak, or if you get stuck waiting for help and need water to stay cool and comfortable. It belongs on the list of emergency items you should always keep in your car.
When Your Car Runs Hot
A car that runs hot even once deserves a look. Overheating can warp the cylinder head or blow a head gasket, and catching a weak water pump, a stuck thermostat or a slow leak early costs far less than engine repair after the fact. And if your A/C struggles on hot days while the engine temperature stays normal, the problem may be in the air conditioning system itself.
Call 425-420-1630 or request an appointment to have your cooling system checked.
