I recommend to all manufacturers that locally produce or import vehicles to South Africa to include the following strategy in the engine’s computer system: programme the computer to
stop the engine when the temperature exceeds the design criteria and prevent it from starting again to save the engine. When the engine has cooled down again, it can be restarted but the engine control unit (ECU) must store the number of times the engine has overheated. I am aware of heavy machinery that had this functionality in the 1960s, so why is it not available in modern vehicles?
AUBREY LEVITAN, Milnerton
Answer: We can confirm that most manufacturers have a safety function in the engine-control software to prevent damage from overheating in modern vehicles. It is common to have an engine strategy that lowers the torque available to the driver after an increase in engine temperature, up to the point where the engine would be allowed to only idle. There is an obvious safety risk in stopping the engine (especially at high vehicle speeds), for example, steering and braking ability may be hampered.