To cool down an engine on the verge of overheating, turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heater full blast. This helps dissipate heat from the engine. If it doesn’t cool off the engine, stop the auto. This is not a lasting fix. Schedule an appointment to fix the problem.

Avoid overheating by reducing the load in your engine. Shut down the air conditioner or shift into a lower gear in case you are climbing a lengthy hill. This will allow you to overcome the hill without overstraining your engine.

Don’t open the cap on the radiator when it’s hot (immediately after the car has become running for a while). The hot fluid inside is under tremendous pressure and can shoot out and burn you.