Your family and your pets aren't the only things to keep a close eye on during an extreme heat wave like the one currently gripping southeast Saskatchewan.

CARSTAR owner Bill Fonstad says 30 plus degree temperatures can increase the likelihood of your vehicle's engine overheating. 

"Any time it's hot like this, the air's going to be hotter so the air coming in to cool the engine is going to be hotter, so it's more work," said Fonstad. "And then when the air conditioner's running, that's taking power from your engine, so your engine's working harder. So it all makes the engine work harder to cool everything, so when the engine's working harder it's going to generate more heat."

"An engine can heat for a variety of reasons, but when it's hot like this it's much more likely."

Fonstad said it's important for people to monitor their engine temperature gauge, and there are other specific things you can do.

"It's a good idea to check your oil and your coolant level every time you fill up on gas or every other time," he said. "I mean that cools your engine, that circulates in the engine and keeps it cool. And keep your radiator clean...keep the bugs off the grill. The radiator and the air conditioner condenser...it all has to be cleaned so it cools better."

"Certain areas of Saskatchewan have a real grasshopper problem, and that can plug your grill up and plug your radiator and air conditioner condenser up, so the air can't flow through to cool it properly."

Fonstad said you should be particularly mindful if you are going on a road trip.

"If you're taking a trip, it's a good idea to check your belts and your hoses. You don't want to burst your radiator hose out in the middle of nowhere," he said. "And of course it's always worse too when you're pulling a trailer. The engine's working harder, and if your car is loaded down with luggage or kayaks or whatever. It's just like your body...whether you're walking down the street or whether you're carrying a 50-pound backpack."

He said engine oil can also be impacted by extreme heat.

"Cold weather starting is the worst thing for your engine, but when it's hot like this your oil gets thinner, it doesn't lubricate as well. But nowadays they have pretty good oils that are good for all temperatures," Fonstad said. "It's just like your body...if you're running a marathon when it's 35 outside compared to 25 it's a big difference. You've got to drink more water, you've got to stay cool."

Finally, he said an overheated engine could lead to quite a bit of damage if it's not dealt with.

"It'll boil all the coolant out of the engine, and then you've got nothing to cool it with. And if you don't catch it in time you can do some damage to your piston rings and everything else," Fonstad said.

Fonstad said he had one more tip for people who are trying to keep their engines cool in the heat.

"Have some ice cream," he joked.

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