what should you do if your car overheats?

[00 scrub]

I was wondering what should you do if your car's engine overheats. I have heard different things from pouring water all over the engine, and that you shouldn't stop immiditaly and turn off the engine. So what is the proper way to protect your engine from damage when/if it overheats?

[cbr600drm]

Definately do not pour water all over your engine. Cooling it too fast can crack the block. The best thing you can do is pull over and stopp emediately. The longer you run it when its overheating the more likely you are to damage the engine and everything else. Once it has cooled off check the radiator fluid. If it is too low you can add water to at leats get you were you are going. Again if you don't let it cool off enough you can crack the radiator by pouring water into it so just wait. If it was not caused by low radiator fluid then you will probably not fix it on the spot. It could be the thermostat or a clogged radiator or hose or a number of things that require tools to check.

[pokgai]

if you cant stop, roll down your windows, turn the HEAT all the way up FULL BLAST!

thats what my dad does in our old corolla. expells some heat from the engine bay i guess?

[FriedRice]

it works. mah minivan also overheated on occasion. turning heater on works well, but still needs attention, but the heater allows u to keep on going..

[marcus_GTS]

if you cant stop, roll down your windows, turn the HEAT all the way up FULL BLAST!

Yes, that will help if the cooling system is in reasonable shape. The heater draws its heat from the engine coolant by channeling air throught the heater core (which is a miniature radiator). So, if the heat is on full blast, you're drawing more heat from the coolant. This won't work in a situation where something in the cooling system has critically failed, because it only works when there is fluid flowing in the system. So if your cooling system is very low on fluid, if your thermostat is stuck shut or if your water pump is no longer working, then this won't work at all. This works really well in cars with old radiators, because the problem there is a lack of heat transfer in the rad, so the heater compensates.

Anyhow, if a car as new as a 2000-up celica overheats, its likely a major problem. You should stop the car right away, and get it checked out ASAP.

[00 scrub]

ok so you shuld stop, shoudl you let the engine idle a but and let the fan cool down the radiator? Or can I put my ket in acc mode and will the fan run by it slef?

[autxr]

Stopping and letting it idle will just do more damage (more than likely). Stop and turn it off.

Leaving the key in on ACC or ON to keep the fan blowing isn't a bad idea actually. Also, pop the hood so the "oven door" is open rather than closed.

Scott

[CIN]

And be careful if you open the radiator tap. It will hurt!!! The water that is.

[Chris25NJ]

I have a question. The temp guage. If you look real close at it, it seems like there are no lights between mid and overheated. You know how you can see what sections of a led lights up? Look at it in the dark, with the dial turned all the way up.

So can I not see it just because it's never light those lights, or because there really isn't any. That doesn't seem right, by the time you realize you are running hot you'll be overheated.

[marcus_GTS]

That doesn't seem right, by the time you realize you are running hot you'll be overheated.

Well, since the gauge is digital, there's no reason to assume it is linear. In other words, just because the last line is twice as far from the beginning as the first one, it doesn't mean the engine is twice as hot. Likely, Toyota programmed it so that the last line lights up as soon as you're outside of the "acceptable" temp range. In a way, it makes sense to do this because most people are more likely to notice a temp gauge that's at the top of the scale than one that's just a little higher than normal. My gauge has never gone above the third last line. I figure that the next one up will show only on a really hot day under heavy load, and the last one will show up as soon as the car is running hot enough to be close to damage. I think the last one starts blinking once you've REALLY overheated it.

[Chris25NJ]

Ok that makes sense. Mine actually is normally at the second to last line. Never seen it higher than that though.

[2000 XYR]

I believe Larry had his overhead once. I think the last LED lights up red or flashes or something. I remember that it has 2-3 LEDs in the "normal" range and only like 2 more on the hotter end. But yeah, I believe at least one of them lights up differently to get your attention.

All the other advice seems right on, but DON'T open up the radiator cap when it is that hot. Let it cool down. If you pour water/coolant down the radiator when it is that hot, it will bubble back up and spurt out all over the place, including on you.