What do I do When my Chevy Starts Overheating? Portland Auto Care Answers from Carr Chevrolet
Be warned: A car that's overheating is not safe to drive! The first thing you should always do if your vehicle indicates that it's overheating - whether with a warning light in the dash, a temperature gauge that's reached the orange danger zone, or just with white steam billowing up from the hood - is to pull the car over to a safe place, and turn off the engine as soon as it's safe to do so.
Why Is an Overheating Car Unsafe to Drive?
Today's modern engines are smaller and more durable than ever before, and are built from lightweight aluminium rather than the heavy cast iron of the old days. That means they make far more power for less fuel - but, it also means that aluminum parts can warp and even fuse together if the temperature gets hot enough. The hotter the engine gets, the more likely it is that catastrophic engine damage will occur! Turning the engine off is not only a good idea for your safety. It means a greater chance of a less expensive repair.
What if I'm Far Away from a Chevrolet Service Department?
If you're far from home when your vehicle begins to overheat, and you wish to avoid an expensive long-distance tow, there's one thing you can try: Turn the heater on full-blast. Since the heater uses heat generated by the engine to warm the cabin, it's possible to use the cabin heater to pull excess heat away from the engine. If your engine is overheating only slightly, this can often buy you some extra time. If the engine temperature dips back into the normal range, you may safely proceed to your nearest Chevrolet dealership. If not, you'll want to call for a tow and avoid damaging the engine any further.
What Caused my Chevy to Overheat in the First Place?
When an engine overheats, it typically indicates a problem with the cooling system. If the cooling system has sprung a leak, you might not have enough coolant to properly cool the engine. The cooling system will need to be inspected by a factory-trained expert to isolate the leak, seal it up and refill the system with fresh coolant. Another possible coolant issue is a rusty or damaged radiator. Radiators can rust, become bent or damaged in a fender-bender or simply stop exchanging heat quickly enough to keep up with the needs of your engine. In this case, we'll want to simply replace the radiator. Finally, another common cause of engine overheating is a failed head gasket. When this gasket fails, engine coolant and oil are allowed to leach from one system and into the other - compromising the performance of both your engine and the cooling system.
The list above is far from exhaustive, so be sure to discuss your vehicle's overheating woes with a trained service technician at your local Chevrolet dealership. They know your Chevy better than anyone, and they'll be able to recommend a long-term fix for your vehicle.
Proudly serving Chevy owners throughout the Portland Area, Carr Chevrolet in Beaverton is your source for the best Chevy OEM parts and quality service from factory-trained pros.
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