Cooling System Service and Repair in Greenville, SC

Is your car overheating? Do you notice steam or white smoke billowing from under the hood? Is your dashboard temperature gauge spiking into the red? Do you smell a distinct, "sweet" aroma coming from the engine bay? These are all immediate red flags that your vehicle has a cooling system problem.

Driving a vehicle with an overheated engine can cause severe, if not permanent, engine failure. Engines overheat for a variety of reasons, but it is typically triggered by a loss of coolant or a system malfunction that prevents heat from properly escaping the engine. Common culprits include a faulty radiator fan, a cooling system leak, a failed water pump, or a clogged coolant hose.

As soon as you notice your car is leaking coolant/antifreeze or the engine begins to overheat, take the following immediate steps and contact us right away.

What to Do When Your Engine Overheats

Turn off the AC and blast the heat. Turning your cabin heater to maximum helps pull destructive heat away from the engine block. You might get a little hot yourself, but a few minutes of discomfort is a small price to pay compared to a total engine replacement.
Pull over safely and shut it down. Find a safe location off the road and turn off the ignition immediately. Allow the engine to cool for at least 15 to 20 minutes. While you wait, call Mason & Sons, and we can help arrange a tow truck to bring your vehicle straight to our shop.
Towing is always best. We highly recommend towing and overheated vehicle to prevent catastrophic damage. However, if you must drive it, wait until the engine is completely cool before carefully restarting it, and monitor the temperature gauge closely. If the needle rises again, pull over immediately.

⚠️ CRITICAL SAFETY NOTE: Never attempt to remove the radiator cap or coolant reservoir lid while the engine is hot. The system is under immense pressure, and opening it can cause boiling coolant and steam to spray out, resulting in severe burns.

Cooling system issues will not resolve themselves over time. The absolute best way to prevent your vehicle from stranded roadside breakdowns is to keep your coolant clean and full, and proactively replace your thermostat and cooling hoses every 6 years or 100,000 miles.

Don't let a small leak turn into a ruined engine; schedule your cooling system inspection with Mason & Sons today!