Driving can put any vehicle to the test. Think: heat, dust, dirt, and cracks in the road.

And then there’s the risk of your Jaguar overheating.

Jaguars actually have great dedicated cooling systems. But any engine can overheat under the right (or wrong) conditions. And that’s risky because engines that become overheated can then experience a cascade of other serious problems.

So how do you prevent a Jaguar overheating problem year-round? And why does it happen in the first place?

There are a variety of problems that can cause too high temperatures in your Jag.

Let’s take a closer look and determine the reasons and the indications that you are about to deal with a Jaguar overheating problem:

You smell something

When an engine is in the process of overheating you may smell something odd. That’s because it’s burning off and evaporating liquids and this may make unusual smells. If the coolant system is involved you might see a warning light going off or detect a sweet smell. Or you may just smell engine oil burning. Either way, pull over and let the engine cool down and add any needed coolant.

Steam from the hood

You see thick steam coming out of your hood. That’s moisture evaporating off the too-hot engine of your Jaguar. You may notice your dashboard’s warning light. That’s because there’s an engine temperature gauge and warning light trying to alert you to the problem. Again, pull over.

Check out:Five Ways To Prevent Your Luxury Car's Engine From Blowing

A problem with the coolant system

Low coolant levels and other problems can result in a Jaguar’s engine overheating. Make sure you carry coolant with you if you're embarking on long drives, especially in the summer, and that your levels are adequate.

Hard driving

Braking and accelerating too much and too hard can raise the temperature in your Jaguar’s engine and make it much worse. Work on accelerating slowly and braking gently – and only when absolutely needed. If it’s hot outside this problem can get much worse.

What can you do to help prevent engine overheating in your Jaguar?

A few quick things:

• Try turning off the air conditioner, which can help prevent a Jaguar overheating issue and reduce stress on your vehicle.
• Try turning on the heat to force your engine to cool off a little. Sounds counterintuitive but your car's internal system is designed to allow this to happen automatically.
• Get in the shade and take a break from driving for 30 minutes to allow the engine to cool
• Add coolant - but be careful because opening the coolant chamber changes pressure in temperature dramatically so use a towel and go slow.

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