“How far can you drive an overheating car?” is something that some car owners might be asking if they are thinking of quickly using a car that is showing signs of overheating. It’s not advisable to ignore an overheating vehicle, even if you’re on the road and in a rush.
The short answer to how far you can drive an overheating vehicle is, not very far, and definitely not without causing some damage to your car. Continue reading to know more about driving with an overheating vehicle and how you can prevent it.
JUMP TO TOPIC
- 1 How Far Can You Drive With an Overheating Car?
- 2 What Happens if You Continue Driving With an Overheating Engine?
- 3 What Are the Signs That the Car Engine Is Overheating?
- 4 How Long Can Your Car Overheat Before the Engine Gets Damaged?
- 5 How Can You Repair an Overheating Car?
- 6 How Can You Prevent a Car From Overheating?
- 7 Can an Overheating Car Cause Battery Charging Issues?
- 8 Conclusion
How Far Can You Drive With an Overheating Car?
You can drive as far as a mile
with an overheating car. If your engine is overheating, you won’t be able to go far before the engine stops working. You would only be able to drive for about one mile before the car stops driving.
If you notice that your car is overheating while driving, you should park your car at a nearby location. Then, contact a tow truck service to pick up the car. If you force the vehicle to run, the problems will only become worse, and you might end up damaging your engine.
If you have just left your home and you notice that your car is overheating, you can find a way to get the car back home before contacting a mechanic. Start your car and accelerate to about 10 mph, higher than the speed limit. Then, shut the engine off while the parking brake is still engaged, and maneuver the vehicle back to your home.
But keep in mind that doing that might damage your car’s engine. You can turn off the vehicle and push it back home too. Regardless, you cannot drive too far with an overheated engine.
What Happens if You Continue Driving With an Overheating Engine?
If you continue driving with an overheating engine, there will be different kinds of problems in your car engine, like a damaged radiator, warped engine parts like the cylinder heads, or a blown head gasket. You can prevent further damage to your car by parking immediately and contacting a mechanic.
A modern engine produces a lot of heat to keep the car running, and the coolant in the reservoir and radiator are meant to absorb the head. If the cooling system stops working properly, the engine will overheat and can damage other parts of the car if you keep driving.
Damaged Radiator
If your car still has coolant in it while it’s overheating, the antifreeze would boil and expand, which would increase the pressure in the radiator hoses.
The hoses might also burst or you would have a broken water pump and the engine coolant would spill over. If the hot coolant spills everywhere, it can also damage other components of the engine.
Engine Parts Become Warped
Driving with an engine overheating would also cause your engine parts to become warped when they go past the maximum temperature. Aluminum cylinder heads in your car would melt quickly and become damaged. In cases like this, you would have to replace the cylinder heads because since they are melted, they cannot be replaced.
If you have a warped engine component, your car will misfire, and you will have oil leaks. Other components that become warped include the electrical wiring, sensors, pistons, camshafts, welds, seals, car battery and cranks. It would be very expensive to replace these melted parts.
Blown Head Gasket
Pushing a car that is overheating would eventually blow the gasket. The gasket is meant to seal the firing pressure of the cylinder, and if it blows, engine oil and coolant will leak into the cylinders. It is highly expensive to repair or replace a blown gasket, and the process is labor-intensive.
If you have a blown gasket while driving with an overheating engine, you would see white smoke from the exhaust, bubbling in the radiator or reservoir, unexplained antifreeze loss, and a milky white tint in the engine oil. If your gasket blows up when you’re driving, it can lead to an accident.
What Are the Signs That the Car Engine Is Overheating?
The signs that the car engine is overheating include the temperature gauge increasing, a warning indicator on the dashboard, the hood feeling hot, leaking coolant, a ticking sound coming from the engine, reduced acceleration, a hot burning smell and steam coming from the hood.
Temperature Gauge Is Increasing
Your engine is meant to operate at a temperature between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. But, if you notice that the engine temperature meter is over 210 degrees Fahrenheit, it means that the engine is overheating.
Warning Indicator Is On
If you notice that the check engine light is on, it might be because the car is overheating. Some modern cars also have a warning light that comes on specifically when the car is overheating. You should not ignore any light that illuminates your dashboard but pull over and check the engine immediately.
Leaking Coolant
Another one of the warning signs that your car is overheating is if you notice coolant leaking from below the car. If you stop your car for a bit and then drive and notice coolant underneath where you were parked, it might be because of leaks. Having inadequate coolant levels in your car can cause it to overheat.
Reduced Acceleration
If your overheated car is taking longer to accelerate or it is very hard to speed up your car, it means that the car is overheating. In this case, you should stop driving and check the hood.
The Hood Is Hot
If the hood of our car is too hot to the touch, it might be because the car is overheating. It is normal for your car hood to become hot when driving or if it is parked under the sun.
But if you are unable to leave your hand on the hood for ten seconds without getting a burn, it could be because the engine is overheating.
A Ticking Sound in the Engine
If you hear a loud ticking sound from your car while you’re driving, it might be because there is not enough engine oil or coolant lubricating the parts of your engine. This can cause the gears to make noise when moving. When the engine parts are not moving smoothly, the engine will overheat.
Hot Burning Smell
If your engine overheats, the high temperature will cause the coolant or oil to burn. If your windows are down, you will smell a strong burning scent from your car. The plastic parts and resin would also be melting, which would cause the engine to overheat even more.
Steam Coming From the Hood
The worst situation is if you see steam coming from the hood. If you’re driving and you notice white smoke coming from under the hood, it is because your car is overheating. You should pull over as soon as possible to prevent an accident or engine damage.
How Long Can Your Car Overheat Before the Engine Gets Damaged?
Your car can overheat for as little as 30 to 60 seconds before the engine is damaged. If the car has been overheating for about a minute, there would already be signs of permanent damage to your car, like coolant leaks, a bad cooling fan, or faulty radiator caps.
If you’re driving while your car overheats, it takes about a minute for the pistons to explode or the valves to seize. The heat can also cause your engine block to get cracked, and this would cause you to replace the entire engine.
The repairs would be expensive to handle, which is why you should stop driving immediately after you see the signs and contact a mechanic. Many people would think the damage occurs to the engine after a few minutes, and so they would prefer to drive.
But don’t think that you can drive for a few minutes with an overheating vehicle. The best thing you should do is pull over and let the car cool down. You can also inspect the hood to check what is wrong.
How Can You Repair an Overheating Car?
Yes, you can repair an overheating car by parking and checking the causes of the overheating vehicle engine. Then, you should repair the reason why the car is overheating, whether it’s damaged pistons, melted plugs and cables, damaged bearings, damaged fuel system and more.
Suppose you have a total engine meltdown, where all the parts of your engine would melt down. The car would no longer be driven, and you would have to replace the engine. It would never end well if you drive with your car overheating, so it’s best to stop driving and check the system.
If you are in a busy place where you cannot pull over, you should turn the air conditioning off and turn the fan heaters on. Then, stay calm and pull over as soon as possible. Once you shut the car down, allow the engine to cool down for about 15 minutes while checking the temperature meter. Wait for it to go to its normal range.
Another thing you should do is add radiator fluid to your car if you have it, which allows the engine cool down. Remember to remove the radiator cap with a rag or cloth because the engine might be hot. Then, start your car and drive to the nearest repair shop while focusing on the temperature meter.
How Can You Prevent a Car From Overheating?
You can prevent a car from overheating by monitoring the car’s coolant level regularly, turning the AC off to reduce the engine load, monitoring the temperature meter, checking for coolant leaks underneath, checking the thermostat, and inspecting your car for damage.
When inspecting your car, you should check the drive belt for wear and tear, check the radiator cap for damage, and look for other signs of burning in your engine parts. If your car has a tendency to overheat, you can also consider covering the steering wheel and seats with a towel or blanket.
Can an Overheating Car Cause Battery Charging Issues?
An overheating car running to charge battery can definitely cause charging issues. When a car overheats, it puts additional strain on the electrical system, including the battery. Excessive heat can damage the battery, leading to reduced charging capacity or even complete failure. It is crucial to address the overheating issue promptly to avoid any further complications with the battery’s charging capabilities.
Conclusion
With our complete guide on how far you can drive an overheating car, you now know how to take care of your car if it starts overheating. Here’s a summary of this article before you go:
- You can only go as far as a mile before your car starts overheating, or it will get damaged and stop working.
- If you keep on driving a car that is overheating, you can warp the engine components, blow up the gasket, and damage the radiator.
- The signs that an engine is overheating include the warning indicator coming on, leaking coolant, reduced acceleration, the hood being hot, and a burning smell.
- Your engine can overheat for 30 to 60 seconds before it gets permanently damaged.
- You can repair your overheating vehicle by fixing the parts that are causing the damage and prevent overheating with regular maintenance.
You can visit a mechanic if your car is overheating. Also, if you notice that your car regularly overheats, you should inspect it for potential issues.
References
https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics
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