0 Grin Face: Manly Things I Just Knew Of

There are tonnes of things that both men and women should know of about each other. There are tonnes of things that only most men knew and there are too most known to women only.

Let's get to the point.

How many women knew how to check their cars' engine oil level? Water level? Change their tyres? Me, on the other hand, only after a year of owning a car did i learnt to do all of the above except the last one. I never experienced tyre complication though i am driving two hours to go back to my hometown every weekend. I admit i am lucky.

A Proton Persona engine, Campro 1.6 IAFM.
Source: driverviews.com

The thing is in Malaysia, if one is to get his driving license they have to attend a workshop on how to's maintain their car conditions to the optimum health. As well changing tyres. So how in the hell i get my driving license? It was arranged by my wise tutor. It was a sweet favor back then, but it certainly doesn't felt that way anymore once you own a car and you are clueless how to maintain it. I didn't even knew how to pump the tyres either! I learnt it from my husband and every now and then when i had to travel alone and forgot the how to's pump a tyre, i would call either my brother or my husband. Pathetic right.

So what's with me? I had been blogging about places, movies, relationships and people, beauty, now cars?

Awww, don't get me wrong. I am not trying to look like i am an expert in car now that i learnt a lot. Huh! I know, it is as if i had been taking some time off from blogging for almost two weeks now that i am back and change direction?! It is not like that. If one is patient enough with my ramblings, i am actually trying to explain why i did take time off. I always did if something happened.

Let me start, my car had been a little rascal nowadays. It had been overheated to 2/3 of the temperature gauge. It was likely that the car would jam anytime especially when going up a hill. It happened once to me after Christmas last year and enough to gimme a really badass hardtime.

Money flies to get a new radiator.

The problem arises again last week and i was in a lot of stress because i suspected that something really bad is going on with the car engine. The car cannot perform at its best, and felt heavy. Once the key is rotated to start the engine, the seat felt like shaking. When i switched off the car after a cruise the fan would still be spinning. When it comes to engine problem, one would know that there would be lots of notes flying off the purse to the cash machine of workshop counter.


But, a blessed day for me and i am thankful that the outlet agree to repair my car by claiming its warranty. The warranty for my car is for 2 years or 50 000 km mileage. Else , i will be paying 3-4k for the top overhaul. Thank you, God. Everything happened just in time.

I am just going to share tips that i obtained from mechanics that i asked around face to face and virtual mechanics on car overheating. Main reasons a car could overheat is;

1. Bad radiator cap. If the spring below the cap is not bouncing then it might not holding enough pressure to hold the heating coolant. 

2. Stuck thermostat. It is supposed to adjust the tempereature of the car. 

3. Leaks at the radiator. Can be detected if you could see pool of coolant on the floor where the car parked. 

4. Clogged radiator. If the radiator clogged with rust and dirts. Radiator should be cleaned profesionally at least once every three months. 

5. Faulty water pump. This could prevent the water from running throughout the cooling system. 

6. Bad cooling fan. The automatic one would be running once the temperature reaches operating temperatures or when the aircond is switched on. Mechanical one will be running all the time but it will run faster if the engine heats up. 

All of the above are the reasons of a car could overheat. If you still do not know how to see if your car is overheating, look at the temperature gauge when it hits 90 and above, then it could be overheating. If you let it be, it could reaches until maximum which is the red zone and that's when the car will stopped and the engine is jammed. The temperature could reversed but this is only indicates that the car will be anytime jammed, so pull over.  If you face this when you are driving, you should:

1. Turn off the aircond or heater or any blower. Open the window, if you don't want to be steamed off in the car. 

2. Slow down and park the car off the road. Do not force your car to go any further to prevent further parts damaged. 

3. Open the hood. But do not open the radiator cap or you'll get hurt with the steam bursting up from the radiator. Wait until 1 hour to cool off the engine back before pouring more water into the radiator and the water tank. The water is likely to be dried off or decreasing when a car overheated. If you open the radiator cap, wear your hand with cloth to avoid direct contact with your hand. 

4. If your car had been overheated to the red zone, it is better to call for help to tow your car to the quality mechanics. If it's not, after water added, you can drive it to the workshop without the aircond on. If it heats up too quickly again you 'd consider that the idea to drive it off is a bad idea. Pull over, then. Call for help. 

5. Reduce brake drag because this will increase the load of engine therefore heat up the engine more. 

No one should compromise with the car overheated problem because it could damaged the engine. If the car engine burst, then the only solution to get the car back on the road is by doing full overhaul. Therefore, bring your car to the quality mechanics to check it for you then, the bad and damaged parts could be repaired and replaced before driving it again. If the problem was let be, the head gasket will be blown. When this happen, water could get inside the engine and will mixed with the engine oil. Bad, bad situation. The engine head could be warped.


If replacement of radiator or water pump or thermostat or service radiator had been done, top overhaul would definitely be the best and only solution to avoid larger cost.


How to know if your head gasket is blown? Easy breezy.

Open the hood, and the radiator cap, start your engine. If you could see the coolant or water from the radiator jumping out from the radiator opening after 5 minutes, then you know that the head gasket is blown.

Another way is by checking the dipstick after you start your engine for few minutes. Then off it. Take out the dipstick. If you see mayonnaise residue mixed with the engine oil, you know you had to do top overhaul for your car and have the engine head skimmed. Because of the blown head gasket.

Worse case scenario is when your exhaust blow white smoke with some kind of weird sweet smell. You will need the above action done too.

This is how your engine should look like when you break it up. Head gasket is supposed to hold engine oil from mixing up with water. When overheat happens, the head gasket would be blown if let be and the cylinder head would be warped too. 

When the car running with blown head gasket, you will feel that the car lose its power, heavy and shaky. I had experience this and i could never sleep well thinking about the car. So, to prevent any overheating problem with your car it is always best that you check your water level, engine oil, any leaks from engine or radiator or other components. Bare with me, please! Brake oil level is also crucials. Your tyres air pressure as well! I know! You are trying hard to read on. Anyway, drive safe, don't drink and drive angry. Be considerate and extra patient when on the road. 
I could recommend you to check out this blog, kerosakankereta.blogspot.com to have your virtual mechanic if you don't have any mechanics' number on your speed dials, too busy, too lazy or too far from real world mechanics. He has lots of car stories to be shared and  even answer to every questions and doubts you have. Cool. I followed his blog.
Thank you for reading!

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