Would you know if your car was overheating? The warning light many motorists don’t recognise

Motorists are scratching their heads over the meaning of various warning lights on their car’s dashboard.

And some drivers were shocked to learn the meaning of the red symbol that looks like two wavy lines with a thermometer sticking out.

Many motorists wouldn’t know if their car was overheating before it was too late, risking them stranding in the middle of nowhere – and saving thousands of dollars on potential repairs.

Some cars have an illuminated dashboard symbol that warns the driver if the car is overheating – the engine cooling warning light.

But some who’ve seen it light up on their jalopies are confused about what the strange-looking symbol means.

If your engine gets too hot, it can cause expensive damage to your car or even damage the engine beyond repair (stock photo)

“What does the symbol that looks like a thermometer/tree in the water mean in a car?” one user asked on Twitter.

And another user, who wasn’t bothered by their car’s warning, wrote, “I just keep ignoring the squiggly lines on my dash. I don’t need any more unexpected bills this month.’

But a concerned co-driver urged them to get it checked, replying, “Squiggly line under a thermometer symbol, you need to check your coolant ASAP.”

The engine cooling warning light is the most unrecognized dashboard symbol among British motorists, according to a survey by ATS Euromaster.

But the warning light tells drivers that the engine is overheating, so if you see the light come on while driving, pull over and shut off the engine as soon as possible.

You should then open the hood – from the cab if possible – and leave your car for at least half an hour to cool down, the RAC said.

Experts at Halfords say if your engine gets too hot it can cause costly damage to your car. You can even irreparably damage the engine.

The warning light also usually indicates that the engine coolant level is running low, so topping up is probably the top priority.

Never remove the radiator cap or expansion tank cap from an overheated engine as it is under pressure and can cause severe steam burns.

Cars use engine coolant, commonly known as antifreeze because it does not freeze at low temperatures, to dissipate the heat created by the combustion of fuel in the engine and the friction of the car’s moving parts.

Vehicles usually have a coolant reservoir with minimum and maximum fill level marks – when the engine is cold, the level should be between the two marks.

Once the engine has cooled down, check the coolant level. If it is too low, top it up with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water (or a premixed antifreeze) by pouring it into the reservoir.

In an emergency you can use clean tap water, but never cold water if you don’t have antifreeze on hand – but this should be added as soon as possible.

Many drivers wouldn’t know if their car was overheating before it was too late, risking them stranding in the middle of nowhere – and saving thousands on potential repairs (stock photo)

The engine cooling warning light is the most unrecognized dashboard symbol among UK motorists: 80 per cent cannot identify it correctly

Overfilling the antifreeze reservoir can damage the entire cooling system.

If topping off the coolant won’t get your car to work or if it’s full, you’ll need to call the tow truck to pick you and your car up, and the problem could be more serious.

The effectiveness of antifreeze fades over time as it deteriorates, so your engine will not be able to stay as cool as it is efficient. If it continues to do so, it can cause problems much more expensive than a bottle of coolant.

Antifreeze should be replaced every three to five years – depending on how often you use your car, its age and the temperature of where you drive.

If your car is constantly overheating despite a new change of antifreeze, it is possible that the cooling system in your car is leaking, so you should have this checked by a mechanic.