Can I drive my car when its overheating?

Hi, my name is Dale Sievwright from Autoplex Auto Service.

Let’s talk about a question we get all the time:

“Can I drive my car while it’s overheating?”

The answer? Yes and no—but mostly no.

While you technically can drive a car that's overheating, it’s definitely not recommended. If your engine overheats and you continue driving, you're risking serious and expensive damage, such as:

-Blown head gaskets

-Cracked engine blocks

-Warped cylinder heads

-Complete engine failure

These aren’t minor issues. What could start as a $500 repair can quickly snowball into a $6,000 catastrophe.

What Should You Do Instead?

We get it—nobody wants to get stranded on the side of the freeway. But if your temperature gauge spikes or you see steam coming from under the hood, do not try to push through.

Here’s what we recommend:

-Pull over safely as soon as possible.

-Turn off the engine.

-Call a tow truck and have the vehicle brought to a professional shop.

-Let a certified technician inspect the issue before any further driving.

A little caution now can save you thousands later.