To keep up with the rising temperature that is brought about by summer, here are ten things you can do to make summer less costly for your car maintenance.
- Make Sure That Your Air Conditioning is Working Properly
We all know how hot the summer season can get especially when it’s coupled with dry and humid air. Now imagine being stuck in the middle of a traffic jam and when you turn that air conditioning on, a gust of hot air blasts on your face. You end up sweating and rolling the windows down just to get some breeze. So before you decide on heading out or plan a road trip, make sure that your air conditioning system is working properly.
Don’t take the air conditioning for granted since this is will help you get through the summer heat.
- Check to See If Your Engine Coolant is Within Recommended Level
Your engine coolant is working hard to prevent your vehicle from overheating. See to it that the engine coolant is within the recommended level for it to work properly. If you’re going to check the coolant, make sure that the radiator cap is not hot to avoid the bursting of the pressurized coolant.
- Don’t Forget to Check on Your Tires and Tire Pressure
Aside from making sure your air conditioning is working properly, the next part is to inspect your tires and tire pressure. Double-check the tire pressure and make sure that it’s not under or over-inflated. Underinflated tires are prone to excessive friction while overinflated tires can lead to blowouts.
- Swap Your Winter Tires to Summer-Ready Tires
You might think that switching from winter tires to a summer-ready tire is not necessary, but it is highly recommended. Winter tires are made soft and flexible with bigger tread depth which is necessary to be able to have better traction on the road. When you use a winter tire during summer, not only is it risky but cornering, accelerating and braking won’t be as crisp as a summer tire.
- Avoid Battery Meltdowns
Extreme summer heat is not only discomforting but it can affect the battery’s health and causes battery fluid evaporation. So before you plan on a summer road trip, make sure you get your vehicle inspected first. Have your mechanic secure the battery properly to minimize vibration, too much vibration leads to future failure.
- Replace Your Windshield Wipers
Because your windshield wiper has been working arduously during winter, it’s high time for you to change your windshield wipers. Great visibility is key to safe driving. Summer is the best time to switch since the recommended frequency is every six months. This is a very simple task and you can do this on your own.
- Inspect Your Belts and Hoses
You can inspect the belts and hoses on your own. For belts, you need to see if there are any cracks present or threads exposed. To check the health of the hose, pinch the hose to check for firmness. If the hose sticks together when pinched, then it’s high time for you to change it. If you’re not comfortable inspecting your belts and hoses, you can always ask your mechanic about it.
- Change Your Oil and Oil Filter
If you follow your recommended maintenance schedule religiously, then you don’t have to worry about your oil and oil filter. One of the many reasons why you need to change your oil is to make sure that your engine has proper lubrication. Proper lubrication is needed to minimize the friction between the moving metal parts of the engine.
- Always Park in the Shade
The best money-saving tip that you should follow to save yourself from spending a lot on maintenance is to protect your car from the harmful rays of the sun. Always park in the shade or invest in a sunshade just in case you won’t be able to find some shade.
Key Take-Away
Bottom line is that you should always take care of your car and never neglect its maintenance needs if you want to keep on driving your car until its wheels fall off. Follow our 9 tips so you and your car can be summer-ready.