Why is my car overheating?

Hello, Dave here, contributing to RepairPal and providing expert advice since 2010. If you drove for 20 minutes without coolant it is more than enough time to cause significant engine damage internally. You may have a cracked cylinder head or breached cylinder head gasket. It does not take very long at all for an engine temperature to get to dangerous levels without coolant being circulated. All that said, be sure to purge any air pockets in the cooling system before guessing or diagnosing further. Air pockets can bubble over the cooling system making it look like it is overheating when it is not. It may not be "worst case scenario" - spend more time and see what happens. https://repairpal.com/auto-repair-near-me Click the link or call us at 877-913-1554. We'll gladly find you a certified RepairPal shop in your area.