An overheated engine can be one of the worst experiences you will face as a vehicle owner.

Not only will you be left stranded, but you may also get a lofty repair bill.

If coolant, or oil temperatures begin to rise on your dashboard, you should act quickly to avoid damage to your engine.

We created the JE Performance Essential® Cooling System service, just for you.

Engines overheat when their is an issue with the vehicles coolant system. This can include:

• Low engine coolant, often as a result of leak.
• Blocked coolant flow.
• Broken or stuck thermostat, usually in the closed position.
• Broken radiator parts such as a water pump and radiator fan.

If you notice your engine temperatures rising, you should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and following a few steps to allow your engine to cool.

1. Open all windows.
2. Turn off the air conditioner if it’s in use.
3. Turn on the heat and defrost to help remove heat from the engine bay.
4. Pull over as quickly as possibly, when it is safe to do, turn off your engine and open your hood to allow more heat to escape the engine bay.
5. DO NOT touch or remove your radiator cap until the engine has cooled down. The coolant in your vehicle system will be extremely hot and can result in bad burns if the radiator cap is opened.
6. Add coolant to your coolant reservoir (ONLY if the system has cooled off). If overheating continues then you will need to call a tow service to avoid permanently damaging your engine.

If you continue to drive your vehicle while the engine is overheating, you can cause additional damage such as:

• Burst hoses due to boiling coolant
• Engine heads can warp under high heat, affecting every aspect of your engine performance.
• Head gasket failure which will then allow coolant to mix with oil. This can be a very expensive repair. In some cases, the engine cannot be saved and needs to entirely replaced.

If a cooling system issue is caught early, then costs can be somewhat low.

Expect ranges from $30 for a replacement coolant hose, to $300+ for a replacement radiator.

The best way to avoid a costly service bill is to have your cooling system checked regularly.

If your engine overheats and you do not follow the suggestions above, then repairs can be very expensive, especially if you engine cannot be saved.

Unfortunately there is no service schedule for things like your radiator or rad hoses.

However, you should follow your owner’s manual in regards to when your vehicle’s fluid maintenance should be done.

A good guideline is to have your coolant flushed every 60,000 – 100,000 miles.

When doing so, we recommend having a licensed technician look over your coolant system components.

Common signs of a bad cooling system include:

• Low coolant levels: as a result of a leak or failed head gasket, resulting in burning coolant.
  
• High temperature readings on your vehicles oil temperature and/or coolant temperature gauge.
• Visible coolant leak: Engine coolant is a bright green, sweet smelling fluid that will stain your driveway or garage floor.
• Visible steam or smoke coming from your engine compartment
• White exhaust smoke coming from your tailpipe: This is a sign that your engine is burning coolant. This can result in expensive repairs and sometimes your engine cannot be saved.