What to Do If Your Car Overheats

Getting to your destination matters less than you'd think once the temperature gauge starts climbing. Continuing to drive through an overheating engine is how a fixable problem becomes a serious one.

1. Flip the heater on and the A/C off

   Sounds backwards, but the heater pulls heat away from the engine and dumps it into the cabin instead.

2. Get off the road as soon as it's safe

   An overheating engine that keeps running risks a warped head gasket, or worse.

3. Shut it off and give it real time to cool

   Fifteen to twenty minutes minimum before touching anything else.

4. Do not open the radiator cap while it's hot

   Pressurized coolant sprays out and causes serious burns. Wait until it's fully cool.

5. Check the coolant once it's actually cool

   Low coolant is a common, fixable cause. Just confirm the cap isn't warm before you touch it.

6. A second overheat in the same day means call for a tow

   That pattern usually points to a leak or a failing part, not something a coolant top-off will solve.