In the new year, it’s likely that many of us will be embarking on long-distance drives or road trips to visit family. While car maintenance might usually be the furthest thing from your mind, there’s an important factor to consider when driving long distances: The possibility that your car’s engine could overheat. Overheating leads to a variety of car troubles, some of which could ruin your engine. Let’s explore some easy ways you can keep your car from overheating and drive with confidence.
Keep Coolant Levels Up
Coolant, aka antifreeze, is a substance that your vehicle uses to keep its engine from overheating. Without the proper amount of coolant, your engine could very easily succumb to overheating. Before heading out on a long trip, be sure to check your car’s coolant levels inside the coolant reservoir or the radiator. Make this a regular habit. Be sure that your car’s engine is completely cooled down before checking your coolant levels—don’t check right after you’ve been driving, as this could lead to injury.
Check the Temperature Gauge
Your car has a temperature gauge that lets you know if it is in danger of getting too hot. In general, most cars will stay at a temperature somewhere in the middle of the dial between hot and cold. While driving, keep an eye on this gauge–if it starts to creep too close to ‘hot’, pull over and let your car cool down before continuing to drive.
Turn Off the AC
When it’s hot out, we want nothing more than to crank up the AC and cool down. However, the air conditioning system can increase the engine load on your vehicle, which in turn can lead to overheating. This can happen especially quickly if the weather outside is also very hot. Try turning off your vehicle’s AC every so often to decrease engine load and keep it from getting overheated.
Inspect Your Drive Belt
A car’s drive belt allows many critical engine functions to work properly. If your drive belt is worn out or broken, it will keep your water pump from working—and that means that your car won’t be able to circulate coolant to the engine. If you notice that your engine overheats very quickly or nearly every time you start your car, there could be a major issue with your drive belt. Be sure to get it checked out before you embark on a long car trip to avoid breakdowns.
Contact Barnett’s Towing Today for Reliable Towing Services in Arizona
On Arizona’s mountain roads, overheating is a risk in any season. If your car has broken down because of overheating, don’t worry—Barnett’s Towing is here to help. As the Tucson area’s top towing company, we’re able to provide towing services for all types of vehicles, including standard passenger cars and heavy duty semi rigs. We’re always available for 24/7 towing in Arizona, so you can be certain you’ll find the help you need. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our towing services.
