Car Cooling System Repair Services
The main role of your vehicle's cooling system is to prevent the engine from overheating. An overheating engine can lead to significant engine damage, which can thereby result in expensive repairs. If you think your coolant system needs repair, it's important to seek service quickly before too much damage sets in. That's where GreatWater can help. As a network of full-service automotive repair and service centers, we handle everything, including cooling system maintenance.
Signs of Cooling System Failure
The good news about cooling system failure is that it's fairly easy to know when there's a problem. Here's a look at some of the common signs:
- Your engine temperature warning light is illuminated on your dashboard. This light indicates that your engine is running too hot and should be addressed.
- Your vehicle's heater is no longer working. This may result from a blockage in the coolant system.
- Your gas mileage has decreased.
- You notice a visible coolant leak. Anti-freeze tends to be bright green and has a sweet smell to it.
- You're seeing white. White steam coming up from under your hood is indicative of an engine that has significantly overheated. White smoke coming from your tailpipe indicates that you're burning coolant.
Is it Safe to Drive a Car that is Overheating?
It's never safe to drive a vehicle that is overheating. Anti-freeze can boil, which can lead to a whole slew of engine trouble. Additionally, engine heads may melt and you could blow a gasket, which can also result in expensive engine repair.
Rather than continuing to drive a vehicle that is overheating, the better thing to do is:
- Open all the windows and blast the heat. Blasting the heat removes the buildup from around the radiator.
- Pull over (keeping your windows open). Turn the engine off.
- Pop the hood to further remove heat buildup from around the engine.
- Once the engine has adequately cooled down, add coolant (if necessary).
While low coolant is a common problem associated with engine overheating, it's still a good idea to have your vehicle seen by a professional if it overheats. A professional technician can assess if engine damage occurred and help resolve any issues so that it doesn't happen again.