You absolutely don't want engine problems to happen if you're on your way to a vacation spot, job interview, or an important family event. However, Murphy's Law dictates that if something can go wrong then it will go wrong or something to the effect of that paraphrase.
Your car will overheat at the most inopportune or inconvenient of times because no one wants their engine to overheat. To safeguard against this threat during an important cross-country or multi-state trip, you should check the coolant reservoir of your car.
You should also have a jug of water available to prevent the engine from overheating while at the same time using it to lower heat
How to Check Car Radiator Coolant Level
- What to Expect: Heat is generated by your engine as you drive your car. Your cooling system such as your radiator keeps the heat at manageable levels so that it won't damage your car or the engine itself. If your radiator lacks coolant due to a leakage, your car will overheat. Or if the coolant is not enough to handle the heat, then the overheating should happen followed by the inevitable breakdown and emergency gas station stop.
- Checking the Engine Coolant: The engine coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and distilled water. It comes in variegated colors such as orange, red, pink, and yellow. You're recommended to check the radiator before you go off and drive off. Seeing if your radiator is okay and full of coolant is easy and simple. You just need to do it like you would when inspecting your car reservoir's coolant level. You should make sure the engine isn't too hot before opening the hood to keep yourself from getting scalded.
- Safeguarding Against Burns: When opening the radiator cap while the motor is hot will result in the pressure being generated by the hot engine to come out like steam from a pressure cooker, thus burning you up if you're in the way. Afterwards, open the cap by turning it counterclockwise then look inside the hole to check if there's enough liquid or coolant within. An indicator that there's sufficient coolant is when the liquid is present at a level below the cap, such that it covers the radiator tube altogether.
- No Liquid: If there's no liquid that you can see from your naked eye, then you should add coolant in accordance to your needs. Top it off. You can also add a 50/50 mix of coolant and water for your radiator even though coolant is already a mix of antifreeze and water. After ensuring you have enough coolant, close the radiator hole by placing the cap and turning it clockwise to tighten it. Regularly check the coolant levels of your radiator to prevent overheating every time. Also check for leakages as well.