As we reach the peak of summer, everything around gets heated up. So keeping that in mind, It’s important to consider and follow a proper summer car maintenance and car care tips to reduce the adverse effects of the heat on your car.
We can’t fully avoid summer but we can take protective measures to reduce the impact it takes on your car.
As you spend time with your car outdoors in the summer, it may face certain issues due to the heat. It’s better to know how you can avoid these problems so that wherever you are, your car doesn’t break down.
Check Out These 5 Summer Car Maintenance Problems and Tips to Fix Them.
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Tyre blowouts :
Checking your tyre pressure is one of the most important things you can do all year round—especially during the summer months. Hot tyres on hot pavements are already vulnerable for a blowout, but if your tyres are improperly inflated, the risk of catastrophic failure is even greater. The heat coming from asphalt and tar on the roads affects the tyres. Help prevent problematic situations by checking your tyres once a month and replace them before they become dangerously worn. It’s also a good time to check to be sure your tyre tread is intact before you take those long summer road trips.
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Weak battery :
Extreme cold or extreme heat affects the condition of the battery. Heat can accelerate corrosion and batteries, subject to repeated high temperatures, will get damaged. Furthermore, long summer trips may damage your car’s battery due to the extra vibration. It can shorten your battery’s usable life. Extreme cold makes batteries inactive and reduces the ability to provide sufficient power. At your next car service, check the terminals for corrosion and ask your car mechanic to check the battery life. You can also see if your technician tops off the fluid in your battery and tests it properly.
Check your car’s battery terminals for corrosion, and check the battery to see if it’s securely mounted. Carry a set of jumper cables or even a battery jump box to avoid getting stranded.
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Broken Drive Belt :
Also called a serpentine belt, your drive belt, helps your car run by powering your engine’s accessories. The summer heat can make it more likely for this vital component to break. If the drive belt is broken, it could cause the power steering, alternator, and air conditioning to fail. Typically, drive belts last anywhere from 60,000-100,000 miles. If it’s been a while since your last belt change, you may want to consider visiting a car repair or maintenance center nearby and avoid any serious issues.
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Engine oil :
Your car’s hot engine needs all the lubrication it can get, so it’s important to keep on top of engine oil changes during the summer months. Though some people believe it’s necessary to use a thicker grade of oil for summer (and thinner oil for winter), this isn’t the case with modern motor oils. The most important thing is to change the oil at regular intervals and use the oil viscosity recommended in the owner’s manual for your car. With the extra miles that people put on their vehicles during summer road trips, it means more frequent changes.
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Coolant :
During the winter what we call ‘antifreeze’ doubles as ‘coolant’ during the summer. Low coolant levels can kill your engine. When your car gets exposed to sunlight for a prolonged time, it is prone to get overheated. If your car’s radiator is damaged or if the hoses are worn out, it can cause the coolant to leak and engine temperatures to rise. You need to keep a close eye on your vehicle’s temperature gauge during summer months to prevent overheating.
Have your car’s coolant get a regular checkup. Check under the car’s hood to see if your coolant levels are fine. Change to new coolant at least every two years and flush your radiator.
So, these car problems may be common during this time of year, but that doesn’t mean they are unavoidable. Following our summer car maintenance guidelines will keep your car in good condition at any time of the year. To make things even easier you can get an appointment with a car service center of your choice through the Carcility app.
