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Surprisingly, winter can not only freeze your car, but also overheat it. In fact, engine damage from overheating can occur at any time of year.
Read about how to avoid worsening the problem if your car engine overheats in the article RBC-Ukraine.
First of all, are you sure that your engine is boiling? That the steam above the hood is not water vapor or snow that has gotten into the exhaust pipe? So first, let's briefly talk about the visible signs of engine overheating and boiling coolant:
Information message or thermometer on the instrument panel. Typically, the critical temperature on the scale is indicated by a red sector. And for general, as they say, development, we will inform you that the operating (normal) temperature of modern motors is from 95 to 110 degrees C;
Steam over the hood. Even in the summer heat, not to mention winter, the fumes of boiling (overheated) antifreeze are visible to the naked eye;
Antifreeze smellThe unusual sweet aroma of boiling liquid often permeates the interior;
Unstable engine operation. When hot antifreeze or steam gets on the ignition system components (gasoline engine) or on the wiring connectors (also diesel), it can cause engine malfunctions.
Drivers, especially those of older cars, should pay attention to such symptoms, as engine overheating is an insidious malfunction, as the car often continues to move until the very end. And the matter often ends with either a major overhaul of the engine or its replacement.
What to do when the engine boils
So, you have noticed signs that the engine has overheated and is even showing signs of antifreeze boiling. The correct action in this case would be as follows:
— Do not turn off the engine immediately. If possible (and if it is safe), pull the car over to the side of the road without stopping;
— Relieve the engine of load – disengage the transmission and leave it idling. If the engine is turned off, the fluid circulation will stop and the situation will only get worse – the head will overheat locally and it may deform;
— Turn on the interior heater to maximum and set the air conditioning fan to maximum as well. The radiator of the “stove” will release some of the excess heat from the engine into the interior;
— If it becomes clear that the engine temperature is not decreasing (perhaps a lot of antifreeze has been lost or the pump has failed), the engine must be stopped;
— Make a decision – whether to call the service station, ask friends for help, or save the situation yourself;
– Do not open the radiator cap (tank) immediately! While the engine is hot, this can cause serious injuries!
If you decide to add antifreeze (as a temporary measure, you can also use water), first prepare a few liters of liquid. Cover the plug with a large, thick rag, slowly open it with your outstretched hands, and immediately hide your hands and face. A powerful jet of steam and boiling water will shoot out of the neck. When it subsides, remove your fan and slowly add antifreeze or water “until full.” After that, start the engine and monitor the temperature: at first the thermometer may show high numbers, then the needle should drop.
Fascia Massage:
Any car repair shop will tell you that engine overheating while driving is one of the most common reasons for a complete engine failure. Therefore, if your car already has several hundred thousand kilometers under its belt, don’t forget to have the cooling system inspected by the technicians at every visit to the service station. And don’t spare money on better quality spare parts, because in this group of parts it is easy to come across unusable fakes.
