A smokey, broken-down car is a common sight on the highway. Your car’s engine is designed to withstand heat, but the combination of heavy use and high summer temperatures can cause a stall. Follow the tips below to help you keep your car healthy and avoid a radiator repair. 

5 Tips to Avoid Overheating Your Car

1. Block the Sun

Your engine isn’t the only part of your car that gets hot, especially during the summer. Keep the interior of your car cooler by using a sunshade over the front of the windshield. You can also keep out heat by having your windows tinted, cracking the windows, or parking in a shaded area. If there is less hot air to force out when you start your car, there will be less work for your engine to reach your desired temperature. 

2. Keep the Seats Cool

There’s no doubt that dark leather seats attract a lot of heat. Consider purchasing a car with cloth seats instead. This will keep some heat off of your interior when you slide into your seats. The hotter your seats are, the higher you will have to blast the A/C. This can cause an engine stall on a hot day.

3. Add Engine Coolant

The engine of your vehicle gets hot, especially during the summer. While a radiator repair is common, you can avoid one by making sure your engine has enough coolant in it. Unfortunately, there’s no sensor to tell you that the coolant is low. Because of this, check the levels every once in a while, especially if you're running the air conditioner all summer. 

4. Use Fresh Air Instead of A/C

Another way to keep your car’s interior and engine cool is to avoid re-circulating the air. By using fresh air from the outside, your engine isn’t re-using the heat that’s trapped inside. On a cooler day, open the windows instead of using the A/C to keep your engine from overworking. 

5. Monitor the Temperature Gauge

During warmer months, keep an eye on the temperature gauge. An increase in the temperature of your engine might be one of the first signs that you need a radiator repair. It can also cause the fan to blow hot air into your car through the vents, which will not be comfortable on a scorching day. 

Since 1970, The Shop Auto Service has been providing reliable auto services and radiator repairs to residents of Cincinnati, OH. If you need a mechanic that can work on domestic or foreign cars, bring your vehicle to them for maintenance. Call (513) 861-4445 today to schedule a service. Check them out online for more information on all of their auto repair services.