Pilot Report

Posts Tagged ‘Southwestern desert’

Living in an environment such as the Southwestern desert, in the hot city of Phoenix, Arizona, I have had quite a bit of experience with my cars overheating.  The temperatures outside are outrageous in the summer time, the traffic in the city, and the heat of the engine all combine to cause that bit of stress when you are stopped in a traffic jam and the needle on your temperature gauge begins to creep into the red zone.

If this is not taken care of right away, the radiator will bubble over and you will be one of those people sitting in the hot sun as steam fills the air.  If this is a problem that happens frequently, it may mean that your vehicle has a leak in the in the hoses of your cooling systems.  A Chevrolet Silvarado repair manual will help you locate this on your Chevy engine, as will a Chevrolet S-10 repair manual.  My pickup truck manual has been used so many times, that I have taped it together, never leaving home without it safely tucked in my glove compartment.  If this is a problem even under normal driving conditions and in cooler weather then it may be as simple as adding liquid to your radiator, or changing a belt, but it could be that either the water pump or the thermostat may need to be replaced.

It is also a good idea to check your radiator cap, which is something most mechanics can do for you very quickly.  But remember, that should you find yourself on the side of the road with a vehicle that is overheating, never attempt to take off the cap while the car is still hot.  The hot water from an overheating radiator can shoot ten feet into the air when the cap is removed, and this is extremely hot water and steam.  And while it may be frustrating to wait, you must.  Always wait for the car engine to cool before make road side diagnoses.