Summer Car Maintenance Help Your Car Beat the Heat

Get Your Car Ready for Summer

Harry Lloyd

Summer-proof

The summer is right around the corner, and for many people, it can't come soon enough. It's pretty hard to not enjoy the great weather and long days of summer; that is, unless you are a new or used car that is ill prepared for the wear and tear that summer can bring.

There is more mechanical processes going on in a car than most people care to think about, and normal, average driving conditions will degrade your vehicle over time. Not adjusting your car to endure the weather is a careless way to considerably speed this process up. Especially considering the amount of road trips and travel in the summer, and you can see why this is so important.

It doesn't matter if you have a cheap used car or a brand new car, everyone can benefit from these tips. Follow these quick and easy steps, and you'll have a car that is ready to take on whatever your summer can throw at it.

1. Check the fluids- The only line of defense your car has against the heat is its fluids. Check your coolant level and quality, and make sure that you have a 50:50 mix of coolant to water. The coolant increases the water's boiling point, allowing it to stay in liquid form and keep your engine at operating temperatures. If you haven't flushed your radiator in a while, this is a perfect time to do so.
   
   Your oil is also very important to check before you put it through a long summer. When engine oil heats up, it thins out. To compensate, it may be a good idea to buy thicker viscosity engine oil to ensure your car stays lubricated. Be sure to also check your transmission, brake and power steering fluid.


2. Check your tires- Having the right amount of tire inflation can be the difference in a lot of mpg. Having your tires under or over the ideal psi will decrease your gas mileage. Make sure your tires have a decent amount of tread on them as well. It may go without saying, but be sure to remove winter tires if you have them as well.


3. Check your brakes- Your brakes experience extreme temperature changes during the winter, going from ice cold to extremely hot after you have driven for a while. These wide range of temperature changes takes a big toll on your brakes, and it goes without saying, you need your brakes.


4. Check your battery- The extreme temperatures, both in the winter and in the summer, deteriorate a battery's ability to hold a charge over time. It's hard to tell when a battery is ready to give out, but most don't last longer than about five years. Having a car with a dead battery is a terrible predicament, but is easily avoidable.


5. Check the little stuff- Most of this stuff you really should be checking year round, but when the seasons change it's a perfect time to get around to all that stuff you've put off. Check the air conditioning; wouldn't that be terrible to lose in the middle of July? Also check your belts and fans for wear and tear. It's not a bad idea to make sure your wipers and wiper fluid are good to go also.

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