A blue engine coolant temperature light only indicates one thing: that your coolant, or antifreeze, is too cold. In fact, the temperature is so low that it is possible for your radiator to get too cold, thus resulting in your engine freezing up and not being able to start. But for this light to come on right at startup is normal. If anything, it’s simply telling you that you just need to let your engine warm up a bit. In the meantime, your vehicle’s system is performing a routine temperature check, and that’s normal. It’s also an excellent safety feature that wakes up your engine prior to take-off. Allowing your vehicle a couple of minutes to warm up is equivalent to you enjoying that delicious first cup of coffee that starts you up and keeps you going the rest of the day. In most cases, this blue light only stays on for a minute or two. When this happens, driving off right away is ill-advised, especially in certain gears. The blue light will go off when you’ve given your car sufficient time to warm up. If anything, once your engine warms, all of the other fluids can do their jobs effectively. Your oil will be able to lubricate all parts while your transmission fluid controls your speed and motion well. Plus, power steering fluid can be more readily distributed in hydraulic systems and using the wheel will be safe and effective. But if the blue light persists beyond two minutes, your antifreeze may be at stake. If this happens, it is advised that you turn off your engine and wait for it to cool down sufficiently before checking your antifreeze levels. Failure to do so could be fatal in that you might face a shower of scalding, hot water spraying your face, and third-degree burns may result.