2026-06-16 · 4 min read
Engine overheating? Causes and what to do
A spiking temp gauge or smoke is scary. Here are the common causes of overheating and what to do right away.
With Malaysia's heat and heavy traffic, overheating isn't rare. Handled wrongly, it can cause serious damage to the cylinder head or engine, which is very costly to repair.
What to do right away
1. Pull over safely and switch off to let the engine cool.
2. Never open the radiator cap immediately — high heat and pressure can spray out and scald you.
3. Check coolant only after it's fully cool, or call a tow truck to the workshop.
Common causes
Low or leaking coolant.
Cooling fan not turning.
Faulty water pump or stuck thermostat.
Blocked radiator or poor heat dissipation.
Prevention
Regularly check coolant and radiator condition and change coolant on time to greatly reduce the risk of overheating.