It can be easy to think that there is little you can do to prevent your engine from overheating. However, this mindset simply leaves motorists stranded on the side of the road.

Owning a car is great for a range of reasons, including loading it with your friends or family and making a road trip or heading to the beach when the weather gets hot and sunny! However, this is also the time when you see the most motorists pulled over on the side of the road waiting for the steam to stop pouring from their engine. Before the weather starts to get hot and you find yourself in this position, SYNTHETIC OIL SOLUTIONS has some easy tips to adopt which can help you to prevent your engine from overheating, along with advice on what to do if it happens to you.

Find a Better Route

Nobody likes waiting in traffic, but we all do it because it’s the quickest route. However, this quick-route could also increase the chance of your engine overheating. If it’s scorching hot out:

• Look for alternate routes to complete your errands, such as driving a few extra minutes on each leg to avoid traffic and congestion.
• If you can, wait until the evening when the temperature drops or a cool-change comes in, to put less stress on your engine.

If you are in traffic, shift into neutral and rev your engine a little, moving the fan belt and giving your engine a very short reprieve.

Monitor Your Temperature

The temperature gauge isn’t a sign of what will definitely occur, it’s just a sign of what could occur if you ignore it. So don’t ignore it! The next time that you can see the gauge climbing and you are stuck in traffic, look ahead for spaces which you can safely pull over to if needed. If you can’t see anything ahead, prevent yourself from getting stuck on the road by pulling over before your engine gets too hot, where you have a chance. Pulling over for a few minutes to allow your engine to cool and the traffic to start flowing again is the easiest way to prevent your engine from overheating.

Keep Your Fluids in Check

All of the fluids your engine uses help it to perform efficiently, lowering the chances that it will overheat. If any of these fluids are old or low, then your engine needs to work harder, increasing the chances of it overheating. Take some time to flush out your old fluids and replace it with fresh product and prepare your engine for hot-weather drives. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and keep your engine’s operating temperature low. To place an order or to find out more about how this and a synthetic oil change can help your car perform during hot weather, speak with a friendly expert at SYNTHETIC OIL SOLUTIONS by calling (502) 664-5783 or check out the online store.

Lower Your Windows

This isn’t going to be the most well-received tip, but it will be the most beneficial. The next time that you reach for the A/C, consider lowering the windows instead, allowing fresh air to cool the cabin while also pushing out hot and stale air. Switching on your air conditioner uses a secondary motor, which puts even more strain on an already struggling engine, leaving to it overheating. Resisting the urge to switch it is a great way to reduce the chances of your engine overheating.

If You Are Stuck

There will just be times, despite your best efforts, when you will see steam pouring from your engine and need to safely pull over. When this happens, the easiest thing to remember is that there isn't anything you can do. You just need to wait until it cools down. However, there are some things which you shouldn’t do.

• Don’t touch the radiator cap as soon as you pull over. Instead, wait for your engine to cool and use visual cues to determine is it is safe to get closer to gauge further. Not only will the cap be hot, but the pressurized hot water can splash out and cause serious burns.
• Once it is safe to remove the cap and you can see you need water and coolant, resist the urge to pour in cold water. Instead, wait until the radiator has cooled further. Pouring cold water into a hot radiator can cause it to crack, which is a problem you don’t want to have.

A Synthetic Oil Change in Jeffersonville Can Help

You can greatly lower the chances of your engine overheating with general maintenance such as fluid checks and giving your engine a synthetic oil change. This will help your engine to run efficiently, reducing its operating temperature. To find out more or to place an order, speak with a friendly professional today at SYNTHETIC OIL SOLUTIONS by calling (502) 664-5783.