Jacksonville Used Cars: The Heat is On

Jacksonville Used Cars: The Heat is On

By Jeremy Kicklighter

     

      Man it’s hot outside.  The temperature in Jacksonville, as with most of the country, is hovering near the hundred degree mark.  When it’s that hot out the stress on your vehicle is extreme.  The last thing you want is to have your car leave you standing by the side of the road due to over heating.  So what can you do when the little red light comes on and the engine starts to run rough?

               

       If you have ever had a car that overheated frequently then you can appreciate the fact that it’s not something that you will ever want to repeat.  But what most people don’t know is that overheating can happen to any car given the right conditions.  So to help you avoid being stuck on the road when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the blacktop, I’ve come up with a few tips that can help you keep your car running long enough to nurse it to a garage.  Here are my top five remedies for dealing with an overheated engine.

   

        1. Turn on the heater

Yes, you read that right.  Okay, I know you think I’m crazy when I tell you to turn on the heater in the dead of summer to fix an overheating engine right? What you need to realize is that turning on the heater allows the heat to transfer from the engine to the interior of your vehicle.  This reduces the stress on the engine.  Sure, it might get a bit toasty inside your car as you roll down the road, but it beats the alternative, which is walking once the engine stalls.

      

         2. Shut off A/C and open windows

When you shut off your car’s Air Conditioner you also decrease the stress on your engine.   Sometimes this step alone is enough to get the needle out of the red zone, which means you can skip rule number one.  However, as with rule number one, it is suggested that you roll down all your windows to prevent from overheating you or your passengers. Remember, it isn’t only the engine that’s going to get steamed in a situation like this.

        

        3. Don’t ride brakes

In rush hour traffic everyone is in a hurry to get home, so they tend to jump on the accelerator then slam on the brakes.  Frequent braking is another way to cause the engine to work harder and overheat.  By moving smoothly with the traffic flow you will decrease the workload required of the engine thereby reducing the possibility your vehicle will overheat .  This tip is not only a stopgap that can reduce overheating, it is also a safety measure that can prevent accidents as well.

       

        4. Rev the engine

This is another tip that sounds counterintuitive at first.  So let me explain.  When your car starts to overheat your best bet is to increase the liquid and air moving through the radiator. By shifting your car into park and revving the engine you will allow the fan and water pump to speed up, which will ultimately cool off your engine.

        

         5. If all else fails, pull over and shut off your vehicle

The best thing to do is to find a safe place to pull over and shut your car off. Leave your automobile off until the engine has adequate time to cool off.  To decrease the amount of time spent on the side of the road try to find a shaded area to speed up the process.  Open the hood to release the heat, but don’t add water until the engine has cooled.

Bear in mind that there are other factors that can contribute to your car overheating.  So make sure your fluids are topped up, your belts are tight and your vehicle’s maintenance is up to par.  The last way you want to spend an afternoon in the dog days of summer is standing in the blazing heat by the side of the road.

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Jeremy Kicklighter is marketing manager for Kicklighter Auto Sales, a family owned and operated Jacksonville used car dealer.