Posted on 9/26/2025
It's a hot day, you're stuck in traffic, and you notice the temperature gauge on your dashboard creeping up. This is a stressful situation for any driver, and it’s a common one because engines are more prone to overheating when your car isn’t moving. But why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent it? If your engine heats up during traffic but stays cool while cruising, you’re not alone. Here’s what’s happening and what to check if it keeps occurring. Less Airflow Means Less Cooling At highway speeds, your vehicle’s radiator gets cooled by the flow of outside air passing through the grille. But in traffic, with little or no movement, that airflow drops dramatically. This makes your cooling system rely almost entirely on the radiator fan to keep temperatures down. If your fan isn’t working properly, or if it cycles on for too long, the engine can overheat quickly while idling in place. In some cases, the fan ... read more