No motorist wants to deal with steam pouring from their engine. However, without the right tips and maintenance, this could be exactly what you will be dealing with on a hot day.

A great benefit to owning your own vehicle is driving your family and your friends to the beach or for a road trip when the temperatures start to climb. Unfortunately, the hotter it gets the more likely that your engine is going to overheat along the way, stopping you and your passengers in your tracks before you even get going. If you have experienced this before and want to avoid it from happening again, or happening for the first time, below is a great article from Ace Hi Oil which can help.

Your Temperature Gauge

If you just watch the temperature gauge rise and rise while you cross your toes and fingers in hopes that it will stop, then you are on your way to an overheated engine. Despite what you may think about the power of crossed fingers! Instead, consider the temperature gauge as an early warning device of what could happen, not what will happen. When you can see it rising, look around and consider your options. For example, if you can see that you will be stuck in traffic for a while and there won’t be many opportunities to safely pull over ahead, look for an opportunity now and wait out the traffic and the temperature.

The Routes You Drive

When you mix hot weather and congested traffic you get a lot of vehicles parked on the side of the road with what looks like an engine made entirely from steam. With this thought in your mind:

• Before driving in the scorching sun, look online at the routes you are going to take and find alternatives with fewer instances of congested traffic and stops. If this means an extra 15 minute of drive-time, then so be it.
• Completing your errands in the evening when the sun has gone down and people are at home can be a great way to get your routine completed without putting too much strain on your engine.

If you do become stuck in traffic for a while, you can consider shifting into neutral and revving the engine slightly. This will cause the fan belt to spin, giving your engine a small reprieve until you can move again or switch off your engine.

Coolant and Fluids

Every one of the fluids your engine relies on help to keep it running smoothly and at a reasonable operating temperature. Because of this, take the time now, before it gets too hot, to check both the level and the condition of your coolant and other fluids. If you can see that it’s due for a top up, choose to instead flush it out and replace it. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and help keep your engine temperatures low while you drive on hot days. To find out more about this and how you can benefit from a synthetic oil change, speak with a friendly expert at Ace Hi Oil by calling (888) 459-9958 or check out the online store for more information.

Time to Reconsider Your Air Conditioner

While you might not like the sound of this tip, it can be the most beneficial to you on a hot day. As you drive, instead of switching on the air conditioner, consider rolling down your windows and allowing the breeze to provide a cool feeling and to push out the stale air from your vehicle. While it isn’t the most appealing idea, each time that you switch on your air conditioner, a separate engine is engaged which puts additional strain on your engine, causing it to overheat quickly.

If It Happens

If you find yourself on the side of the road with an overheated engine, there isn't much that you can do except wait. However, there are some things which you shouldn’t do:

• Don’t touch the radiator cap. Instead, look for visual cues to determine how hot it may be, and then move your hands safely closer to further gauge. Trying to remove it straight away can cause serious burns.
• Once the radiator cap is safe to remove and you can see that you need more water and coolant, consider waiting even longer until your radiator cools further. Pouring cold water and coolant into a hot radiator can cause it to crack, which means you need a replacement before you can drive again.

Help Your Engine with a Synthetic Oil Change in Fort Worth, TX

Keeping your engine in good health is a great way to prevent overheating, and can be as simple as monitoring your fluid levels and a regular synthetic oil change. To learn more or to place an order, speak with an expert on the subject at Ace Hi Oil by calling (888) 459-9958. ;