My engine is overheating. Is it safe to drive?

Most engines today operate at a temperature of about 195 degrees to 220 degrees. Operating the vehicle at temperatures higher than that, can cause serious damage to your engine. When the engine starts overheating, the engine begins to ping (makes a rattling sound). At this point, the engine needs to be shut off because the pistons, and rings could become damaged and hoses could burst under pressure. First pull off to the side of the road or into a parking lot. Open your hood but don’t and I repeat don’t remove the radiator cap until enough time has gone by for the engine to have cooled down. Once your engine has cooled down (this will take between 30 minutes to an hour) you can safely remove the radiator cap and add water and or coolant as necessary.