Road vacations, drive-ins, and sadly automobile difficulties find perfect conditions in the summer. For what reason? The most critical systems in your automobile may suffer from extreme heat. We are thus here to assist you securely seize the season if your summer calendar is full of travel and beach visits.
Making sure you're a bit more ready this season can help to guard your automobile, yourself, and your family this summer. Read on as we list twelve summer must-know auto maintenance ideas.
Summer Car Maintenance Made Easy: 8 Essential Tips
1. Test the AC
Summer heat complements air conditioning really nicely. Your automobile will demand a functional AC system when hotter temps strike. Make sure you test your AC ahead of the summer season; you might not have used it in winter or spring.
If turning on your air conditioning results in heated air, a basic remedy might be a refrigerant (Freon) charge.Refrigerant addition to your automobile will increase your AC system. Should it be insufficient, an auto mechanic should be qualified to identify and fix the issue.
Read also: Car Maintenance Tips And Tricks
2. Feel the air pressure in your tires.
Winter weather might have worn down your tires. So check your tire pressure before embarking on lengthy road journeys this summer. Looking for indications that your tires are under- or overinflated will help you determine your tire pressure. Between 30 and 35 PSI (pounds per square inch), most passenger automobiles have advised tire pressure. If in doubt, consult the handbook of your automobile owner to get the exact details on what your tire pressure range ought to be.
Perfect tire pressure helps save a flat tire or tire rupture. On those lengthy drives, keeping your tires well inflated can also assist maximize your gas mileage.
Examining the air pressure of your spare tire will also help you to ensure that it will be a dependable backup should an emergency strike.
3. Cap engine fluids at top level.
Because they either thin or even evaporate in warm conditions, seasonal weather variations can sometimes cause low engine fluids. You want to fill out your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant and windshield wiper fluid when summer arrives.
Given its purpose of preventing engine overheating, coolant fluid is especially crucial to monitor in the summer. Check the coolant level in your automobile using these guidelines:
- Open the hood.
- Finding the coolant reservoir, reverse the top.
- Examine the reservoir's coolant level represented by indicator lines.
- Should the indicator lines show that the coolant level is insufficient, top the reservoir with the necessary coolant addition.
- Refastener the cap.
Your closest mechanic may assist you to top everything up if you are not familiar monitoring the coolant levels or any other engine fluid.
4. Change your oil and filter
Changing your oil and filter is among the easiest ways you can extend the lifetime of your car. Oil lubricants protect your engine from wear and strain; the oil filter helps clean the engine oil of pollutants.
Getting your oil changed is easy. If this repair is not done regularly, though, your automobile may have expensive oil issues like particle accumulation that might wear out important engine parts. Generally speaking, follow the oil maintenance recommendations provided by your automobile manufacturer or replace your oil every 5,000 miles.
Read also: Essential Car Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know
5. Check your brakes.
After the hard winter, you should pay close attention to the braking performance of your automobile. Every time you drive, you rely on your brakes; so, it's a good idea to undertake frequent brake inspections not just in the summer but all year long.
Apart from the clear red sign of inadequate stopping ability, you should pay close attention for screeching or snarling noises when braking test. Additionally you should look for brake pulling—that is, if your car pulls to one side when you apply the brake pedal. Should any of these indicators of poor performance arise, it is time for an assessment and maybe a repair.
6. Change the wipers on the windscreen.
Keeping sight is absolutely crucial when you are driving. Summertime dust and pollen particles or even the sun's brightness might obscure your view plainly out of your windshield. Check the efficiency of your windshield wipers to eliminate anything that can compromise viewability. At the conclusion of every season, have a look at or replace your windshield wipers.
Check also whether pollen and other particles obscure your light beams. Change your headlights right away if they look weak or dim to make sure you can see properly at night, in the rain or in any other environment that can compromise your vision from the driver's seat.
7. Plan regular replacement or cleaning of air filters.
Particularly in the summer, the air filters in your automobile play a rather vital function. Crucially in warmer months or seasons with high pollen counts, they prevent contaminants from entering via the vents. Not to add, running an outdated filter could cause issues with your air conditioning system.
Replacing your entire AC unit may be anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000, hence regular maintenance of the quality of your air filter is both vital and economical. Manufacturer instructions advise changing your air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles, or as advised here.
8. Tidy your automobile.
Maintaining both the inside and outside of your vehicle not only makes you feel good but also makes financial sense over time. Hot temperatures can melt plastics, food or other trash left inside your car and may ruin the inside of your automobile, requiring a pricey repair.
Maintaining a clean exterior also helps to shield the paintwork from UV light and damage caused by any birds or insects.