Although many factors can lead to overheating, these are three that are the most likely culprits.

A fan under your hood helps keep the engine cool when you idling in traffic. If the fan malfunctions, then heat can't dissipate properly, and overheating becomes possible. The fan is often the culprit when a car overheats in traffic, as opposed to overheating when traveling at highway speeds.

A leak in your coolant system, such as a crack in the radiator or a burst hose, means that no antifreeze is in the system to help keep the engine cool. Minor leaks may lead to low coolant levels, while a major leak can leave your radiator completely dry.

If the water pump goes out, then the coolant can't move through the system. Your antifreeze levels will be at the required level, but the car will still overheat quickly whenever you try to drive it.

Knowing a few things about overheating before it occurs can help you avoid major engine damage. A little knowledge makes it easier to not just spot a problem but also to deal with it when you are stranded on the side of the road.

The most obvious sign of an overheating engine is a rising temperature gauge, especially if the check engine light also comes on. Smoky steam coming from under the hood means that the coolant has bubbled out of the radiator and that you need to pull over immediately - or major engine damage may occur.

If your car overheats, the following supplies may get you safely to a repair shop. Heavy gloves or a thick rag are a must because the radiator cap will be hot. Goggles are also useful to protect your eyes from any steam. Keep a 50:50 mix of coolant and water in a jug in the car, but you can use just plain water in a pinch. A quart of oil can also be helpful, since low oil levels can lead to engine overheating.

Once the temperature gauge rises, you must act quickly to prevent major engine damages. Three steps may get you back on the road.

Sometimes, you can't safely pull over right away. In this case, turn on your car's heater as soon as you notice the temperature increasing on the gauge. The heater in a car works by actually pulls heat away from the engine, which can help keep it cool until you can pull over.

For the sake of safety, you must wait after you are able to pull off the road. The steam and heat from an overheating radiator and engine can cause severe burns. Wait several minutes so that most of the steam stops, then open the hood cautiously so you don't get a steam burn from any trapped heat. Use heavy gloves or a thick rag to test the radiator cap to see if it is cool enough to remove.

Once you can safely remove the cap, you can then add coolant or clean water to the radiator to top it off. Once you have done so, you must watch the temperature gauge in the car and wait until it is back in the safe zone before attempting to drive slowly and cautiously to a mechanic.

In some cases, you won't be able to move the car after overheating, such as when the radiator won't hold coolant or if engine damage has occurred. If this occurs, then call Hix Wrecker Service for more assistance.