Is there a heater in the car on hot days? Sometimes it's better

You don't have to think about it in terms of temperatures this week, but in some cases it may be useful to turn on the heating on hot days. advertisement Yesterday I came across this contradictory advice for hot days. To give away the good news: This advice can only be useful if your gasoline or diesel car is at risk of overheating. Otherwise, just turn on the air conditioning.

Unless you drive an old Porsche or Volkswagen, there’s a good chance your gasoline engine uses coolant to keep things cool. The coolant passes through the radiator where it is cooled by the wind. But if your engine is in danger of overheating for any reason, it might be smart to turn on the heating.

The heating in a petrol or diesel car often works with the heat of the coolant. There is often a small radiator behind the dashboard through which air from your ventilation system is blown; this way the heater blows warm air. This is why the heater is often only warm when your car has reached the desired temperature. With hybrid cars, you often also have an electric heater that heats up early. The added effect is that this radiator acts like a coolant.

Your heater cools the engine.

If you set the heater to its hottest setting and the blower to its highest setting, the heater will help cool you down with coolant. If your gasoline or diesel is in danger of boiling over and you can't stop, you can turn on the heat. A little tip: open the windows so you don't get washed away by the sweat.

Read also: The real reason why your air conditioner is cold

Of course, it’s best to stop the car to prevent engine damage. An overheated engine can lead to a hefty garage bill. If your heater suddenly starts blowing cold air again when it was running at full blast, you should definitely stop. From experience we can tell you that your coolant will be completely gone – and your engine certainly doesn’t like that.