Overheating is a summer speciality in Cornwall: long queues on the A30, the Tamar Bridge approach and steep coastal climbs are hard on cooling systems, and an engine that keeps running while overheating can be ruined.
What to do when the gauge climbs
Pull over as soon as it is safe and switch the engine off. Do not open the radiator or expansion tank cap while it is hot; the coolant is under pressure and can scald. If you see steam, a sweet smell or coolant on the ground, the cooling system has probably lost fluid. Turning the heater on full can buy a few moments to reach a safe stopping place, but it is not a fix.
Do not keep driving
Continuing to drive an overheating engine risks a head gasket failure or seized engine, which turns a hose or thermostat repair into a replacement engine. Topping up with cold water into a hot engine can crack components. The safest option is to let it cool and have it recovered.
Recovery to a garage
We load the vehicle onto a flatbed so it is not driven any further, then take it to your garage, your home or our yard near Redruth. We work across Cornwall 24/7, cover vehicles up to 7.5 tons, need no membership and give a clear price before we set off. Call 07874 130193 and tell us whether the engine has been switched off.
What to do right now
- Pull over IMMEDIATELY when the gauge enters the red — every minute risks engine damage
- Switch off the engine and turn the heater on full hot — it pulls heat from the engine
- Leave the bonnet shut for 15–20 minutes before opening — coolant under pressure causes severe burns
- Check the road behind you for coolant trail — confirms a leak and helps the mechanic diagnose
What not to do
- Don't open the radiator cap while hot — boiling coolant under pressure causes serious burns
- Don't keep driving 'a few more miles' — head gasket damage starts within minutes
- Don't pour cold water into a hot engine — thermal shock can crack the head
- Don't ignore a small leak — it's the same fault as a big leak, just earlier
What affects the cost
- Distance from your location to the chosen garage
- Whether the engine has seized (winch loading adds time)
- Out-of-hours premium for evening/Sunday recovery
Equipment we bring
- Flatbed recovery (never towing — risk of further engine damage)
- Winch for engines that have seized solid
- Coolant containment kit for road-spill leaks
Questions drivers ask
How long can I drive an overheating car in Cornwall?
Zero miles. Once in the red, head-gasket damage starts within minutes. The recovery cost from Cornwall to a garage is a fraction of the £1,500+ a blown head gasket costs to repair.
Should I put water in the radiator?
Only once the engine is fully cool — at least 30 minutes after switching off. Even then, water is a short-term fix only; you'll dilute the antifreeze and the underlying leak is still there. Recovery to a garage is the safer call.
What if it's just a coolant leak and the engine never overheated?
Catching a leak before overheating is the best-case scenario — most leaks (split hose, weeping radiator) are £100–£300 fixes. We can recover to a garage even if you've not overheated, and you'll save the engine.
Will my car insurance cover recovery for overheating?
Comprehensive policies with breakdown cover usually do — check your documents. Even without it, paying for recovery now is hundreds; paying for a new head gasket later is thousands.
An overheating engine in Cornwall is a time-critical recovery. Broadside Recovery uses a flatbed (never towing, which compounds cooling-system damage) and gets you off the road inside minutes of the call, preventing the £1,500+ head-gasket repair that comes from driving "just a bit further".