What to do if your engine overheats

If your car begins to overheat, first turn off your air conditioner. This will lighten the load on the engine. Then, turn on your heater so it will draw heat away from the engine.

When you’re at a stop shift to neutral and slightly accelerate the engine. This also helps reduce the load on the engine and increases the airflow across the radiator and the coolant flow throughout the engine.

If you actually see steam coming out from under your hood it means your cooling system is boiling. You need to pull to the side of the road and turn off your engine. Continuing to drive if your cooling system is boiling could damage your engine. Do not open the radiator cap. The radiator is extremely hot and is under very high pressure. Let the vehicle cool completely before trying to find the cause of the overheating.