What to Do When Your Car Overheats on the Road

Watching the temperature gauge climb into the red is one of the scariest moments on any road trip, and the problem is that the wrong reaction, often made in a panic, can turn an inconvenience into an engine-destroying mistake. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, when the car overheats is the difference between a tow and a repair, and it is knowledge worth having before you need it.The first and most important rule is to pull over safely and turn the engine off, because driving even a short distance while overheated can warp the head and destroy the engine. The second rule, and the one most people break, is to not open the radiator cap while the engine is hot, because the coolant inside is under pressure and will