If your temperature gauge is climbing into the red or you see steam from under the hood, pull over and shut the engine off as soon as it's safely possible. Continuing to drive even a short distance can turn a moderate repair into a genuinely expensive one.
What to Do Right Now
Don't open the radiator cap while the engine is hot, pressurized coolant can cause serious burns. Let it cool, typically 30 minutes to an hour depending on the outside temperature, or better, have it towed rather than restarting it.
What Actually Causes Overheating
- Low coolant, often from a slow leak in a hose, the radiator, or the water pump
- A failing water pump, which stops circulating coolant properly
- A stuck thermostat that won't open to let coolant flow
- A cooling fan that isn't turning on when it should, especially noticeable in stop-and-go traffic rather than highway driving
- A clogged radiator that can't release heat effectively
What We Commonly See
One thing we see often is a car that overheats specifically in traffic but seems fine on the highway. That pattern almost always points to the cooling fan, since highway speeds push enough air through the radiator to compensate for a fan that isn't engaging, while stop-and-go traffic has no such airflow to hide the problem.
Why continuing to drive is risky
An engine that keeps running while overheating can warp a cylinder head or blow a head gasket within minutes, repairs that cost far more than the original coolant leak or water pump ever would have.
What We Actually Do to Fix It
We pressure-test the cooling system to find the actual leak or failure point, rather than just topping off coolant and sending you back out. Once we know the real cause, we fix that specific part. Every repair is backed by our 36 month, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty.
See our full cooling system repair page. An engine that's overheated repeatedly can also show up as milky engine oil, worth checking if you've had a cooling issue recently.
Here's what one long-time customer experienced with a sudden cooling issue:
A real story
"I have been using American and Import for many years now. I have had numerous instances when I needed quick repair and response, the most recent when my water pump bearing failed and the car overheated. The car got to the shop at noon and was ready by 5." — FRED7007FRED
Overheating FAQ
How long does it take a car to cool down after overheating?
Typically around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on outside temperature and how efficiently the cooling system was working. Don't open the radiator cap until it's fully cooled.
Is it safe to keep driving a slightly overheating car?
No. Continuing to drive on an overheating engine can warp a cylinder head or blow a head gasket within minutes, turning a moderate repair into a much more expensive one.
What's the most common cause of overheating?
Low coolant from a slow leak is the most common cause, followed by a failing water pump, a stuck thermostat, or a cooling fan that isn't turning on.
Can I just add water instead of coolant in an emergency?
Only as a genuine emergency measure to get to a shop, water lacks the corrosion protection and boiling point benefits of real coolant. Have the system properly serviced as soon as possible afterward.
Why is my car overheating only in traffic, not on the highway?
That pattern often points to a cooling fan that isn't engaging, since highway speeds provide airflow through the radiator that stop-and-go traffic doesn't.
Learn more about American & Import Auto Repair or see every make we service.
TS
Tim Smith Co-Owner
Tim co-founded American & Import Auto Repair in 2002, putting decades of hands-on automotive experience to work. He's still hands-on in the shop today.