Summer Heat and Your Car: Cooling System Tips for Tennessee Drivers

Memphis summers are hot and sticky. When it’s 98 degrees outside, your engine gets much hotter inside. Your car’s cooling system works overtime to keep things running smooth.

A broken cooling system means expensive engine damage. But keeping it healthy is easier than you think.

How Your Cooling System Works

Think of your cooling system like your body when you’re hot. You sweat to cool down. Your car uses coolant liquid to carry heat away from the engine.

The system has several parts working together:

• Radiator (like a big heat exchanger)
• Water pump (moves coolant around)
• Thermostat (controls coolant flow)
• Hoses (carry coolant to different places)
• Cooling fan (pulls air through the radiator)

When any part breaks, your engine can overheat fast.

Watch for These Warning Signs

Your car gives you clues when the cooling system has problems. Don’t ignore these signals:

Temperature gauge gets too high

• The needle should stay in the middle
• If it moves toward “Hot,” pull over safely right away

Sweet smell around your car

• Coolant smells sweet, like syrup
• This smell means you’re leaking coolant somewhere

White steam from under the hood

• A little steam is normal on cold mornings
• Lots of white steam means big trouble

Puddles under your parked car

• Coolant is usually green, orange, or pink
• Even small leaks can become big problems

Simple Checks You Can Do

You don’t need to be a mechanic to spot cooling system problems.

Check coolant level when engine is cool

• Look for a plastic tank near the radiator
• Coolant should be between “min” and “max” lines
• Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot

Look under your car after it sits overnight

• Small puddles mean you have a leak
• Different colored fluids mean different problems

Feel your radiator hoses

• They should feel firm but not rock hard
• Soft, squishy hoses need replacement
• Cracked or bulging hoses will fail soon

What to Do If Your Car Overheats

Don’t panic, but act fast. Overheating can destroy your engine in minutes.

Immediate steps:

• Turn off your air conditioner right away
• Turn on your heater full blast (this helps cool the engine)
• Pull over safely and turn off the engine
• Wait at least 30 minutes before opening the hood
• Call for help – don’t try to drive

Never pour cold water on a hot engine. This can crack expensive engine parts.

Prevent Problems Before They Start

The best way to avoid overheating is regular maintenance.

Keep your cooling system healthy:

• Check coolant level monthly
• Replace coolant every 3-5 years
• Fix small leaks before they get bigger
• Replace old hoses and belts
• Keep your radiator clean

Why Professional Service Matters

Your cooling system is more complex than it looks. Hidden problems can cause sudden failures.

A professional cooling system service includes:

• Pressure testing to find small leaks
• Checking the water pump and thermostat
• Testing radiator cap pressure
• Flushing old coolant completely
• Inspecting all hoses and connections

This thorough check catches problems before they strand you on Highway 385 in 100-degree heat.

Don’t Wait for Summer Heat

The time to check your cooling system is now, before you need it most. Memphis summers are brutal on cars.

Waiting until your car overheats means expensive emergency repairs. It’s much cheaper to prevent problems than fix them after they happen.

Cool Down with Archer’s Auto Care

Since 1981, we’ve helped Memphis area drivers beat the heat. Our experienced mechanics know how Tennessee summers affect your car.

We check every part of your cooling system using professional equipment. If we find problems, we explain them in simple terms and give you honest prices.

We use quality parts designed for hot weather driving. Our work comes with a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty for your peace of mind.

Don’t sweat the summer heat. Call (901) 362-8863 or visit 4471 S Mendenhall Rd, Memphis, TN 38141.

We proudly serve Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, and Cordova with reliable, honest service.

Stay cool this summer – your car will thank you!