Checking the temperature gauge

When driving, there are so many things that you need to concentrate on it can be easy to forget to look at other dials on your dashboard. With hazards outside the car and constantly checking your speed, you may easily miss a light on the dash or a fluctuation in the temperature of the engine.

The temperature gauge is often marked with a red zone, showing you that if the temperature reaches this then you need to stop and investigate.

A car often over heats when there is a problem with the radiator which carries the water to cool the engine. If this develops a leak then you could see you temperature soar in a few seconds. If you are in heavy traffic and there is no air passing through the engine then it is likely to make the problem worse.

If your car does over heat then you need to stop, but wait a minute before lifting the bonnet as you could be harmed by the steam. You can put your heaters on in the car to take away some of the heat from the engine but this often will only work temporarily.