- Summertime is Summer Tire Check Time: 7 Tips To Combat 11,000+ Tire-Related Accidents Annually — and Keep Tires Rolling for Longer
- 10 DIY Tips to Add Years to a Vehicle’s Life & Minimize Expensive Repairs
- Defensive Driving Tips to Avoid Costly Repairs As Wintery Driving Conditions Continue to Plague Roads
- AutoPartsWarehouse.com 2013 Child Passenger Safety Tips and Resource Guide
- Top Five Parts to Make Your Vehicle More Fuel Efficient
Defeat the Summer Heat: Keeping Your Car in Good Condition for a Cool Road Trip
Summer may be the perfect time for travelling, but remember that the scorching heat of the sun may have some harmful effects on your vehicle, especially if it’s not maintained well. So to prevent all kinds of technical issues in your car while travelling this season, here are some tips for you:
1. Make sure the radiator is in optimum condition to prevent engine overheating.
Keep in mind that your vehicle’s cooling system, particularly the radiator, receives more heat during summer due to the high temperatures. An old radiator could cause the engine to overheat, which might mean emergency stops in the middle of nowhere due to a smoking engine. Keep your radiator in good condition by making absolutely sure you have a 50:50 ratio of coolant and water.
2. Inspect your tires before driving.
Keep in mind that during summer, tires are more vulnerable to being damaged or blown out especially when you carry heavy loads for long periods of time. For this reason, always check the air pressure in each tire before hitting the road. In addition, make sure your spare tire is still in good condition because you’ll never know when it will come in handy.
3. Clean your vehicle’s interior.
Of course, you must not forget to maintain your vehicle’s interior. Who would want their ride’s interior to smell of sweat throughout the summer, right? Putting an air freshener inside your vehicle is the quickest solution to get rid of bad smells. You must also vacuum the carpet, and spot clean spills and stains that settled on the dash and seat covers. And oh, don’t forget to install a small trash bin for whenever you and your passengers need to throw trash away.
4. Regularly wash your vehicle’s exterior.
Wash your vehicle’s exterior with mild soap and water to keep it looking good even in the scorching heat of the sun. Never use cleaning products that contain strong chemicals such as these may ruin your car’s paint. It’s also best to wash your ride in a shaded area to prevent its coating from getting damaged by the harmful rays of the sun.
5. Keep your A/C in good condition.
And last but not the least, you must see to it that your vehicle’s air conditioning system is working fine! Needless to say, the A/C is one of the most important features of your car during a hot summer day. If you notice that your ride’s A/C is not cooling enough, you must have it inspected by a professional mechanic immediately. Molds may have already damaged the system or you may require new refrigerant.