Check Your Coolant Levels

Cars are designed to run hot, but there's a limit to how hot they should run. A combustion engine is most efficient at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit). If an engine gets too hot, moving metal parts can actually start to melt and fuse together, causing a variety of internal problems for your engine, as well as a hefty repair bill.

All modern cars are equipped with a cooling system that uses a chemical coolant, called antifreeze, and a series of pumps, hoses, thermostats and fans to keep the car at its optimal running temperature. If any problems arise with this system, such as low coolant levels, cracked hoses, loose or broken belts, a leak in the radiator, or even a loose or missing radiator cap, can cause your car to overheat and break down.

The summertime is tough on cooling systems. Sitting in traffic on a hot day is one of the quickest ways to overheat your car. This is because there's no air flowing across the engine to help keep it cool. A well-tuned cooling system can take long idles in hot weather, but if you have low coolant levels, your engine temperature is going to go up...and fast.

Check under the hood and make sure that your coolant levels are fine. The general rule is to flush your radiator and add new coolant at least every two years. Flushing the radiator is done with a special chemical that cleans debris and build-up on the inside of the radiator. For summer driving, coolant should be added as a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water.