Summer is coming: Some like it hot, but your ride doesn’t

MANILA, Philippines–True, your ride may be a mass of tough metal, plastic and rubber. But when exposed to the punishing heat of summer, it can also “stop and melt with you,” as the new wave ditty goes.

Motioncars-Inquirer Motoring lists down the common problems cars encounter during summer and gives helpful tips on how to handle a vehicle that overheats on a hot day.

When you see on your dashboard instrumentation the engine overheating indicator lighting up red, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, and call for roadside assistance (or go to the nearest service station/gas station).

Before you pop open your hood to check, make sure that the engine is turned off.

The book “Essential Car Care for Women” advises car owners to read their owner’s manual’s safety warnings to see if there are any particular safety stickers you should keep an eye out for.

The cooling system of the car is often neglected by vehicle owners until it’s too late, and their vehicle overheats. Unfortunately, by the time a driver notices that something is wrong, the engine may already be seriously damaged.

“As a mechanic, I have seen hundreds of engines that had to be replaced because they were driven while they were overheated. To prevent this from happening to you, make sure that the cooling system is in good condition and that it always has the proper coolant level,” said Mark Eskeldson, author of “What Auto Mechanics Don’t Want You to Know.”

“If you’ve driven the car recently, and the engine has reached normal operating temperature, allow it to cool for a couple of hours or so before checking the coolant level,” advised Steve Rendle, author of “The Car Book.”

Rendle added that you find the coolant reservoir (check your car’s handbook for its location), and check that the coolant level in the reservoir is up to the correct mark, or between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks. If the coolant needs topping up, place a wad of rag over the top of the filler cap and slowly unscrew the cap to release the pressure in the system. Never unscrew the filler cap if the engine is hot. Top up the coolant to bring the level up to the appropriate mark. When you’ve finished, refit the cap tightly and wipe away any spillage.

“Check your owner’s manual to determine the exact fluid you need to add to your cooling system,” said Jamie Little and Danielle McCormick, authors of “Essential Car Care for Women.”

And don’t forget to check the radiator cap as well. According to Dan and Judy Ramsey, authors of “Teach Yourself Visually: Car Care and Maintenance,” the radiator cap is relatively easy to check. Look for obvious leaks around its perimeter. If you see coolant leaks around the radiator cap even if the cap has been tightly placed, replace it.

Other causes of overheating

Some overheating problems aren’t related to the cooling system at all, stressed auto expert Deanna Sclar, author of “Auto Repair for Dummies.” Other circumstances that can cause a vehicle to overheat include lack of oil, a blown gasket and transmission problems. If your cooling system seems to be in good order after you check it and do the maintenance work, investigate these possibilities: late timing, plugged radiator, slipping accessory belt, collapsing bottom radiator hose, low oil level.

If you find yourself in stop-and-go traffic or climbing a steep grade on an extremely hot day, and your dashboard temperature indicator starts to rise or a malfunction light comes on, here’s how to help regain its cool, according to Sclar:

• At the first sign of overheating, shut off your air conditioner and open your windows. Doing so decreases the load on the engine and helps it to cool off.

• If your car continues to overheat, turn on the heater and blower. Doing so transfers the heat from the engine to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. (This does wonders for your overheated engine but very little for you, but at least you can “take the heat” more than your engine.)

• If you’re stopped in traffic and the temperature gauge is rising, shift into neutral or park and rev the engine a little. Doing so makes the water pump and the fan speed up, which draws more liquid and air through the radiator. The increased air and liquid circulation helps cool things off.

• Try not to ride your brakes. In stop-and-go traffic, crawl along slowly on little more than an idle, rather than moving up and then braking repeatedly. Brake drag increases the load on the engine and makes it heat up. If traffic is crawling, move up only when the gap between you and the vehicle in front of you gets too large.

• If you think that your vehicle is about to boil over, drive to the side of the road, open the hood, and wait until things cool off. Remember, don’t open the radiator cap under these circumstances, and if your engine has boiled over, don’t add water until the engine is quite cool again.

If you must add water when the engine is still a little warm, add the water slowly while the engine is running in neutral or park.