The icon can flash up on dashboards (Image: Getty)
A dashboard can display an array of different symbols.
This means that people who speak can understand indicators and warning signs, but the lack of accompanying words can mean that the meaning of some can be tricky to decipher.
One of the icons that a can flash up has baffled some .
It has been described as looking like a boat, and its meaning could prove important in terms of the health of your car’s engine.
On , a user posed the question as to what the symbol was telling drivers.
As is to be expected, some responses were more serious then others, as a number of people chose to make jokes, while others were helpful.
The person asking for advice wrote: “What does this light mean?”
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The warning is telling the driver about the health of the car’s engine (Image: Getty)
This was then retweeted, writes, with a user saying: “”Looks like a boat. Probably smooth sailing or something.”
A different person commented: “That’s the ‘pirates approaching’ warning. better start paddling.”
Another wrote: “It means your car’s engine hasn’t warmed up to the normal temperature.
“When it does, that light will turn off. I only know this because I had to look it up for a rental car about two months ago.”
In fact, it is the engine cooling warning light.
The symbol represents a thermometer with wavy lines at the bottom. It means the vehicle’s engine temperature is rising too high, and that the car is running low on engine coolant.
If this is not rectified, the engine could overheat.
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Experts say drivers should pull over and check engine coolant levels if the warning light comes on (Image: Getty)
Advice from the RAC
The RAC advises: “If the temperature warning light on your dashboard — a small picture of a thermometer — comes on, that could mean your coolant levels are low and could be your first sign of an overheating engine.
“When it’s safe to do so, pull over and check your coolant levels, topping up if necessary.
“If the temperature gauge on your dashboard has moved into red let your engine cool down for at least 30 minutes before continuing.
“If the light comes on again, this could be symptomatic of an issue with your cooling system, so check your car into a garage and get it seen to as soon as possible.”