How do you know if your car is overheating?

Symptoms of overheating can include white smoke or steam coming from the engine area of a car, hissing from the radiator, and engine failure. Leaking hoses, low coolant levels and a burnt rubber smell can also indicate overheating.

Because a malfunctioning thermostat can cause a vehicle to overheat, periodically checking or replacing the thermostat on a vehicle can save a lot of time and money spent on serious car repairs. Never drive a car you suspect is overheating. This can lead to much more expensive repairs, sometimes resulting in a situation in which replacing the engine is the cheapest solution.