What if your engine overheats?

Turn off the air conditioning and open the windows 

Air conditioning puts a strain on the engine, so if you notice that the temperature reading is rising or if the warning light comes on, immediately turn off the air conditioning and open the windows to relieve and cool down the engine.

Turn on the heater 

It might seem counterintuitive, but if even after turning off the AC and opening the windows, your car’s engine continues to overheat, turn on the heater and set it to maximum. This helps relieve the cooling system.

Turn off the engine and open the hood 

If the issue persists, pull over, turn off the engine, and open the hood. Since the engine is overheated, avoid opening the hood with bare hands; use gloves, a cloth, or a towel, especially if you see smoke coming out. Leave the hood open for about half an hour, which is usually enough time for the engine to cool down and allow for a check of its current condition.

Check the level of coolant

Once the engine has cooled off, check the coolant tank, which is usually located near the radiator, while continuing to use gloves, a cloth, or a towel for safety. If the fluid level is low, it’s possible that the engine has overheated. To resolve this, add the recommended mixture of antifreeze and water, which you should always carry with you.

If the reservoir is empty, there may be a leak, which is often noticeable by dripping or puddles under the car. If the reservoir is full, the issue could be electrical or mechanical.

Avoid overloading the engine

If you’ve established that lacking coolant is not the issue, try to maintain a consistent speed during driving without sudden accelerations or releasing the gas pedal abruptly, so as not to put additional pressure on the engine. Cooling is most effective when the vehicle is on the move. When the vehicle stops, the cooling process relies on the ventilator. If the ventilator stops working due to a malfunction, so does the cooling.

How do you know if you’ve cooled off the engine? 

If you apply one or more of the following tips and notice that the temperature on the reading device is dropping, it means you’ve successfully cooled off the engine. 
Our advice is that if you notice any irregularities on the car, contact one of our partner services from the TotalEnergies Workshop Concept.