The Complete Guide On What To Do When Your Car Overheating?

Introduction

Car overheating can happen to anyone, anywhere. 

You’re driving on a busy highway when steam starts coming out. The temperature gauge shoots up suddenly. 

This situation often happens, and it’s nothing to panic about. Many drivers face such problems, but being aware of the situation can make a good difference. Knowing the right steps can save your engine from damage. It can also keep you and your family safe on the road.

This guide will teach you everything about car overheating. You’ll learn the warning signs, immediate actions, and prevention tips.

Signs your car is overheating?

Your car gives clear signals when something is not right with your car.

• The temperature gauge moves into the red zone. This is the first and most obvious warning sign.
• Warning lights start blinking on your dashboard. These lights usually show an engine symbol or thermometer icon.
• Steam begins coming from the hood area. You might see white smoke rising from the front.
• A strange burning smell fills the air around your car. This smell is different from normal exhaust fumes.
• Your car’s performance starts feeling sluggish or unusually noisy. The engine might make weird sounds or lose power suddenly.

Don’t ignore these signs – they’re your car’s way of asking for help.

What to Do When the Car Overheats

When you spot your car giving overheating warning signs, follow these simple steps.

• Pull your car to the roadside and turn on the hazard lights.
• Switch off the engine and AC immediately, after pulling your vehicle to the roadside.
• The car engine might be boiling, so make sure that you take care while opening the bonnet.
• Wait 15-30 minutes, Your engine needs time to cool down properly.
• After waiting, If the engine is cool enough, check coolant and oil levels carefully. Low levels often cause overheating problems.
• Look underneath your vehicle for any sign of leakage.
• Never pour cold water on a hot engine. This can damage your engine.

Restart your car only when the temperature gauge returns to normal.

Factors why your car overheats?

Several factors can make your engine boil.

A low coolant level is the most common reason, if it’s below the recommended level, then the engine gets heated up. Low Engine oil is another factor, annually changing the engine oil with company-recommended oil will keep your engine safe.

A broken radiator fan can’t cool the engine effectively. A faulty water pump or thermostat disrupts coolant flow. These parts control how coolant moves through the system.  Clogged coolant hoses or system blockage prevent proper circulation.

This can be resolved easily with the proper service from the authorised service centre.

Can You Still Drive an Overheated Car?

The simple answer is no – it’s too risky. Continuous driving overheated cars can damage your engine.  Your best option is to wait for the car to cool down, it might take 30-40 minutes depending on the weather. Meanwhile, call for roadside assistance if you’re stuck on a highway. And contact a nearby service centre immediately for professional help. They can guide you on safe next steps.

How to Prevent Car Overheating

Prevention is always better than dealing with problems. For cars, it’s to take care of it. Often to save money, we run on old engine oil. Which not only degrades the engine reliability and performance. So, it’s highly recommended to service your car from genuine authorised service centres. Always check coolant and engine oil levels and top up when it’s needed. This will prevent 90% of the problems of the engine options.

Why Visit Magnus Motors for Help

When it comes to professional service, Magnus Motors stands out in Ahmedabad, the authorised showroom for Citroen.

As a Citroën-certified dealer and service centre, they understand your car completely. Their trained staff can diagnose overheating problems quickly and accurately. 

Their transparent service approach easily books service appointments, routine inspections, or emergency repairs. Their team is always ready to help Citroën owners in Ahmedabad.

Conclusion

Car overheating doesn’t have to ruin your day or damage your engine. Knowing some basics of your car can prevent big problems. Meanwhile, if you have Citroen, then servicing from an authorised service centre like Magnus Motors prevents most overheating problems. Stay prepared, drive safely, and trust the professionals when you need help.