The hot summer months can put your car under extreme stress. You can help yourself and your car by being prepared for the heat and what it can do to your car. Proper maintenance and upkeep go a long way in combating the effects of weather conditions, especially the long hot days of summer. Take a look at our summer car care tips below, and keep your car running smoothly all summer long.
Check Your Battery
We often associate the coldest months of the year as troublesome times for our car battery, but the hot summer months and extreme heat can have more of an impact on your battery than the cold. Excessive heat and vibration are a battery’s worst enemies. These factors cause internal breakdown and eventual battery failure. You won’t be able to stop the weather from being hot during the summer, but you can make sure your battery is securely mounted and fastened to decrease vibration and movement as much as possible. Beware the battery fluid evaporates at a faster rate in the summer months leading to corrosion on the battery’s terminals and connections. If you notice build up of battery fluid, clean your battery’s terminals and connections to prevent it from failing you when you need it most.
Engine Coolant
An overheated engine can get seriously damaged. During the hottest months of the year keeping your engine cool is more important than ever. Check your fluid levels and make sure that you follow your car’s regularly scheduled maintenance to flush old fluids from your engine. Keep your coolant levels constant and add a mixture of cold water and coolant when your levels begin to taper off. Be careful and never unscrew a coolant cap while your engine is still hot. Boiling coolant that is under pressure can cause serious burns. Always make sure your engine is cool before adding coolant or unscrewing this cap.
Tire Pressure Levels
Make sure that you keep your tires properly inflated at the manufacturer recommended level. Tires that are underinflated can overheat quickly, especially on hot summer roads, and increase your chances of a blow out. The best way to stay safe is to check your tire pressure once a month, most healthy tires lose about a pound of pressure a month. Keep all of your tires, including your spare, at the proper pressure levels to ensure your safety while driving during the summer!
Additional Fluids
Coolant does a lot of the work in keeping your engine cool, but other fluids and lubricants in your engine also help keep it cool while it is working hard. If your engine is not properly lubricated, it has to work harder. This can lead to an overheated engine and serious damage to your car. Be sure to keep an eye on your fluids including: motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual when adding fluids to your car.
Be Prepared
While you’re out driving this summer, stay prepared by packing an emergency kit. Breaking down on the side of the road can be bad even in the nicer summer months. Include water, non-perishable food items, a flashlight with batteries, a map, and other essentials in your kit in the event that you have car troubles and need to use it.
We hope that this blog will help you prepare for the heat, and the effects it can have on your car. If you’re interested in buying a quality used car, come visit us at the dealership. At G & E Motors we have a ton of great cars, a friendly staff, and a financing team that will help you get into a car no matter what your financial situation is.
