Who doesn’t love a fun and exciting road trip as you traverse through winding roads and never-ending scenery? Nothing compares to car rides or rolling the roof down in a convertible to get some air in your hair. A recent report stated that the majority of vehicle owners get their cars for leisure activities and off-roading camping trips while they have an alternative for work or their daily commute.
Unfortunately, all vehicle owners have to look after their cars or might find themselves with vehicles giving them trouble. Overheating problems can be annoying in the summers when your car engine doesn’t particularly enjoy the excessive heat.
If you are using the vehicle to drop and pick your kids from school or ferry people, look after your vehicle better, so you don’t end up stranded or in an accident that could be fatal. According to a poll, more than 26 children die every year in overheated cars in the US. Since you certainly do not want an uneventful scenario spoiling all the fun, here are a few hacks that can help you tackle the ever-looming overheating problems.
Inspect the radiator and coolant of your car
Source: carparts.com
Regular maintenance and upkeep are vital, and there are systems where the dealership even follows up to see if you are keeping your end of the deal. They would then inform you if your coolant reservoir and radiator are working effectively. Further, inspecting the radiator and coolant once a week does the trick. The last thing you want is a stalled car in the middle of nowhere.
Switch off the air conditioner in your car
It can be tempting to leave the car air conditioner running throughout, but do yourself a favour and turn it off, especially when the engine temperature starts increasing. You can contain the temperature by turning the AC off because it minimizes the load on the engine. Alternatively, you can try turning up the vehicle’s blower fully, which helps absorb the heat from the engine bay to the cabin. Although you may feel like you are in a sauna as the interior of the cabin is sure to get hot, at least you do not have to fret and fume about your overheating car engine.
Keep the car windows open a little
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Closed windows trap hot air inside the car while the glass acts as a conductor that heats the enclosed space even further. You have to ensure that the air escapes, and you can do this by leaving your windows just a little open. If you have a sunroof, consider opening that too. However, see that you do not leave the opening wide enough for someone to reach through. Be on the lookout for weather changes to see that a sudden storm doesn’t leave you with wet and damp interiors.
Flush your radiator from time to time
How often you need to flush your radiator depends on the vehicle to vehicle. While most cars need this service every year, vehicles that drive heavily and rack up many miles need flushes more than once a year. You can ask your auto professional to offer you guidance on the number of flushes needed. You can do away with particle buildup in your radiator, which reduces the chances of clogging. Without flushes, the buildup can spill through the cooling system, which can degrade and wear it down, preventing it from functioning optimally.
Turn on the floor air vents
Source: mastermechanic.ca
To get air flowing again, most individuals get in the car and turn the dashboard vents to ‘high’. However, it is better to direct the air through the floor vents. Since hot air rises, it is wiser to switch to the bottom vents and put the blower on maximum to push the hot air out. After the vehicle begins to cool, you can open the upper vents again.
Pay attention to the temperature gauge
The temperature gauge on the dashboard might be digital or have a needle that always has to be pointing towards the centre. If the needle points towards hot, turn off the engine and wait for the car to cool down. Furthermore, you can also try turning on the heat to cool the engine. Turning on the heat can pull hot air from the engine compartment, which works to cool the engine down. While it may not do away with the underlying issue, it works miraculously for long drives.
Take a look at coolant leaks
Sometimes even though you may have put an adequate amount of coolant and water in your car, you can face high engine temperature problems. If you are facing a similar issue, check the cooling system of your vehicle for leaks.
Head to a professional mechanic who can help you out
by fixing the leak. Other than this, be sure to also examine the drive belt from time to time. If the drive belt breaks, the water or coolant pump won’t function properly, so the coolant will not circulate.
Get an MOT check
Source: carguide.co.uk
An MOT check is a mandatory check that vehicle owners need if they plan to use their car publically on roads in the UK. The MOT check makes sure that vehicles are roadworthy, environmentally friendly, and safe and provides the information on a certificate with one year of validity that the driver has to carry in the car. After it turns three years, vehicle owners have to get through the check every year by taking it to an authorised garage where they conduct the tests and checks.
Ideally, owners have to check their vehicles pre getting through the test so they meet all the criteria. If a car fails the test, the owners will not be able to use it till it has cleared it. Furthermore, there are fines and penalties for cars that are moving around without getting through the test.
Some websites and platforms assist with the process and allow people to download the documents they need to get the test. They can even use checkmot.com to work on the process. Additionally, they can even book a date and time with the closest garage to make the process easier.