PREPARING CAR FOR HOT WEATHER

People all over the world like different seasons for their reasons, but summers have a special place in everyone’s hearts. Not only do they get a long vacation from work, schools, and colleges, a lot of people had the opportunity to travel and meet their friends and family. Some have a family cabin in the woods, and they drive there to spend summertime properly. 

However, trips can become annoying if your car is not working at its best as continuous stops at the auto shop, and calling the emergency services to tow your car during the journey can be hectic.  

For this reason, it is advisable to do seasonal maintenance of your car before you decide to hit the road to save time and money. Even if you are not traveling, the hot weather of the summers can cause your car not to work correctly. 

The car can heat up too quickly in warm weather, even if you are only visiting the supermarket or someone within your hometown. Getting your ride checked from a mechanic can help you identify any problems while getting the car ready for the hot weather conditions. 

Here’s What You Should Do…

Everyone should know how their cars can become a nuisance during summers and how one can solve any problems beforehand. Let’s take a look at the measures you need to take to prepare your ride so you can drive carefree during the summers. 

• Tire Pressure: We are all aware of the temperature changes in the summers daily, which, causes the pressure of the tires of your car to either go down or go up. Such fluctuations require you to keep a check on the tires as high or low pressures will cause your tires to deteriorate quickly. Tires will start wearing out if the pressure is not maintained regularly.

• Summer Tires: It is better to replace your tires with summer tires as it will increase the fuel efficiency and provide better handling. One can always go for tires that work through all 4 seasons, especially if they do not wish to put a burden on their spending. It should be noted that the shorter sidewall and aggressive tread of the summer tires allow the car to catch speed in no time.  

• Air Conditioning: There is a high chance that the air conditioner of your car stops working effectively in high temperatures during summers. If you see air coming out of the vents and it is not as cold enough, then it could be due to a damaged air conditioning system.  

It is advisable to get the air filters replaced so you can escape the scorching heat while traveling. 

• Radiator: Cars tend to get heated up in a short amount of time during summers, hence, keep an eye on the temperature gauge of your car in the meter. If it is increasing, then at a fast rate, check the radiator to see if there is enough water in it. Moreover, there could a leak in the radiator of your car, causing the car to heat up quickly. It is also advisable to keep the extra coolant in the car in case you need it during the journey.

• Battery: Your batteries can indeed fail at any time of the year, but high temperatures in summers make your batteries increasingly vulnerable. Just take the car to the nearest auto shop and get your battery checked to stay out of trouble in the future. 

• Braking System: Driving a car with worn-out brakes is very risky, and the braking system tends to stop working at its best in summers. In case you hear any odd sounds while braking then gets a mechanic to take a look at it. There is a high probability that your brake fluid has run out, so get a refill to stay safe. 

• Regular Oil Changes: How many times you need to do the oil changing of your car depends on how much you drive your car. Failure to get an oil change regularly can cause problems in crucial moments. Moreover, it is suggested to keep an extra bottle of oil in your car as it will come in handy. 

• Wipers: If you live in a place where there are a lot of snowfalls during winters, then the blades of the wipers of your car have most likely worn out. Hence, while getting the wipers replaced, one should also get a refill of the wiper fluids. If you cannot see the road clearly while driving, then accidents are bound to happen. 

• Emergency Kit: you must have used up all the items in your emergency kit in winters, so now it is time to get those items back. Before starting to travel, make sure to update the emergency kits with things like flares, first aid kit, and water. These will come in handy in case your car breaks down in the middle of a road. 

• Visit a Car Wash: The paint of your car during summers can get damaged if it is parked in a place where the sunlight hits the exterior directly. Moreover, the interior of your car is also vulnerable to extreme sunlight as it loses its original color making your car look unattractive. 

It is advisable to visit a car wash more often in summers or do it yourself to save money. Make sure to do the cleaning of the whole car, including the lower part, as you could be dragging something along. In addition to this, invest in car cover and always put it on your car after getting back from work to save it from the sun. 

You could also park the car in shade as it will save you the trouble of putting the cover on and taking it off every time you need to drive somewhere. 

• Light Bulbs: It could have been a long time since that last time you checked to see if all the bulbs in your car are working. Summer vacations are for travelling long distances and enjoying with friends and family. 

Before travelling somewhere far from home, get the parking lights and the hazard lights checked and replaced if necessary. 

Make sure the light in your trunk and the car is working properly so you can use it while driving if the necessity arises. Weakened headlights and tail lights are one of the major causes of accidents all over the world, so it is better to be safe than sorry.  

ADDITIONAL PREPARATIONS

So far, we have looked at all the significant preparations a person should carry out to make their cars ready for summers. However, there are a few additional things that you should be concerned about, especially if you wish to set out on a journey to another city/town in the summer vacations. 

A person should always keep a few gallons of water in their car in case there is an emergency. You may need it to the bottle of the wiper fluids and the radiator in case your car breaks down as a result of getting heated up. 

Moreover, having a phone charger in your car will also come in handy in case of an emergency. How will you contact the emergency services if your phone’s battery runs out? 

After taking care of the car’s engine, cooling system, braking system, and tires, it is time to make sure that all your paperwork is done. You may not need it during your journey, but a traffic police officer can always pull us over to do a quick check. 

Having proper documentation will ensure a safe and sound journey without getting into any arguments with the law enforcement personnel. 

Another thing that will help you travel safely is a practical and operational GPS (mapping & tracking) system. Most people are dependent on their smartphones to guide them during the journey, but what if the battery runs out? 

It is better to get the GPS of your car fixed so that you can arrive at your destination as soon as possible. It decreases the risks of getting lost in the middle of nowhere and be completely clueless about what to do next.

FINAL WORDS

People often do not pay much attention to their cars in summers as they do in winter. However, it should be noted that your car requires the same amount of care in hot weather as it does during winters. 

Anything could happen, and your car could breakdown causing you to make unexpected stops while travelling. Such sudden failures can even ruin your whole vacation that you get only once in a year. 

Being prepared will save a great deal of your precious time and money while allowing you and your family members to enjoy a smooth ride. Go over all the tips mentioned above and make sure to carry out every single task before taking the car out in hot weather.