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Despite the cold weather, there’s plenty to look forward to during the winter. Maybe it’s the upcoming holiday season. Maybe it’s you getting ready to cheer on your favorite college or professional sports teams at an upcoming tailgate, heading up to the slopes, or catching the latest sales on your favorite brands.
Either way, whatever the season has in store for you likely means more traveling during the winter months. And maintaining your car will ensure that your vehicle is ready for these long road trips, especially in drastically cold temperatures. But, even though the winter temperatures can be frigid, your car can still be susceptible to overheating. That’s why learning more about avoiding an overheated engine and proper cooling system maintenance is key to caring for your vehicle.
Overheating is pretty much as it sounds, as it refers to your car’s engine temperature exceeding the normal operating temperatures set forth by the manufacturer. For most vehicles, the average operating temperature for an engine is between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. While this is good to know, most vehicles do not show your engine’s exact temperature. Instead, you will likely see a needle temperature gauge with a red H and a blue C, standing for Hot and Cold. This temperature is read from a refrigerante temperature sensor located in your engine and measures the temperature of the refrigerante o antifreeze to ensure your car is cooling properly.
When you start your vehicle after letting it sit overnight or even for a few hours, especially during the winter, your temperature gauge will read cold. This is perfectly fine, as your vehicle will take a few minutes to warm up to the normal operating temperature. However, this doesn’t mean you must sit and wait for it to warm up before heading out.
But whether you sit and wait for the car to warm up or hit the road right away, the refrigerante will sit stagnant in the engine until it reaches its optimal operating temperature. When this happens, the thermostat will open up, allowing just enough coolant to flow through the cooling system, hoses, y radiator, to keep the engine properly cooled and at a constant temperature while driving. This will rely heavily on proper coolant levels as the cooling system needs a specific amount to keep the engine cool.
Yes, a vehicle can overheat in the winter, but it is much less likely to occur as the colder temperatures help to cool the engine down. Conversely, as you could guess, your engine fights hotter exterior temperatures in the summer, so overheating is more common during the hotter months.
However, while less likely, overheating in the winter can still happen, and it can be just as inconvenient as any other time of the year. And there are several reasons why your vehicle may overheat in the winter, including:
When you’re an Endurance customer, you can get help fast whenever you’re dealing with an overheating engine. That’s because, with any Endurance plan, you can get complimentary roadside assistance and towing services and can take your car to any Certificado ASE mechanic or repair shop. And, with the Advantage plan, you can enjoy comprehensive breakdown protection while saving on some of your car’s essential maintenance needs, including up to $3,500 in yearly services like oil and filter changes, engine diagnostic exams and more. But that’s not all, as you’ll even be able to enjoy several one-time-only services for even more coverage and savings, including a battery replacement, a brake pad/shoe replacement, and more, including some potentially much-needed cooling system maintenance.
An overheating engine can cause detrimental damage very quickly at any time of the year, so knowing what to do when this happens can save you from more extensive repairs and repair bills.
The first thing you will want to do when you notice your car overheating is turn on the heater. And yes, while this may sound odd, it actually helps to draw heat from the engine by sending refrigerante into your heater core. This can help buy you some much-needed time until you can get to your nearest repair shop or your towing services can arrive.
If turning on your heater does not help, and your needle is getting closer and closer to the red H, you will need to pull over to allow your engine to cool down. Trying to drive with an overheating engine will only increase the risk of more damage. Stopping for some time could help you from becoming stranded on the side of the road.
Once you have pulled over in a safe location, allow your engine to cool down for about 30-45 minutes. This time may be reduced in the winter months, depending on how cold it is outside. Allowing your engine to cool down can help you get back on the road and drive to a mechanic’s shop before it overheats again.
If you believe your coolant level is low, you can add refrigerante or distilled water to your radiator to help keep your engine cool. Before opening your radiator cap, you must wait until your engine has cooled down completely. Otherwise, you can risk severely burning yourself from the steam. You can always add refrigerante or distilled water to the reservoir tank as it is not pressurized and safe to open when the engine is hot.
Lastly, when your vehicle has cooled down, you want to drive it to the nearest auto parts o automotive shop. An overheating engine is not something you want to be driving around on for extended periods, so you must have it repaired as soon as possible.
No matter the car you drive, it is important to follow its programa de mantenimiento recomendado to keep it running at its best. For example, routinely checking if you have low coolant levels and having a refrigerante flush performed are great ways to prevent overheating issues, potentially saving you from unexpected repair bills. And while it can help you avoid repairs right now, just like keeping your vehicle’s tires at the correct PSI o checking your oil, maintaining your cooling system can save you time and money over the years of ownership. It can also help you avoid that dreaded check engine light coming on. While maintaining your car is the best way to prevent a breakdown, even the most maintained vehicles can experience an unexpected breakdown. This is where having an Endurance vehicle protection plan can help.
Whether you have a car just past its factory warranty or a car up to 20 years old, Endurance vehicle protection plans can help you avoid costly and unexpected repair bills that can happen anytime or anywhere. But that’s not all, as every Endurance plan also comes with 24/7 roadside assistance and towing services, trip interruption coverage, and rental car coverage as standard benefits. You will also be eligible for a full year of Beneficios de Endurance Élite for even more perks and savings to give you more peace of mind, including tire repairs/replacements, collision discounts, key fob replacements, and even up to $1,000 in total loss protection.
To get started with your Endurance protection plan and to learn more about how a protection plan can help you, call our industry-leading customer service team at (800) 253-8203 or request a free, no-obligation quote. Or, you can learn more DIY car tips or find other articles on topics like auto expert buying guides, extended warranty coverage comparisons, money-saving car maintenance tips and more by visiting the Endurance blog.
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Hable con un especialista en planes de protección de vehículos y obtenga $450 off any new contract instantly.
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Simplemente complete la información a continuación y le daremos seguimiento rápidamente con su cotización gratuita y sin compromiso.
Al hacer clic en el botón, acepta que Endurance utilice tecnología automatizada para llamarlo, enviarle un correo electrónico y enviarle mensajes de texto utilizando la información de contacto anterior, incluido su número de teléfono móvil, si se proporciona, con respecto a la protección del automóvil o, en California, el seguro contra averías mecánicas. También acepta el Endurance política de privacidad y Términos y condiciones. El consentimiento no es una condición de compra y puede retirar el consentimiento en cualquier momento. Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos.
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As both an Army Veteran & ASE Certified repair shop owner, Andrew has made educating the modern driver an ongoing mission since the opening of his repair shop, Midwest City Autospa, in 2012. Leer más about Andrew.