Summertime, and the living is easy . . .
Well, for you at least. But what about your vehicle? Just because summer is easy on you doesn’t make it easy on your 4-wheeled best friend. And don’t forget, a problem with your vehicle can quickly escalate — something we’re sure you don’t want to deal with when you know you could be at the beach, not the auto repair shop!
Summer is the season of road trips. But before you venture out on the open road with your family, make sure you follow these Summer Car Care Tips. Make sure the engine oil and oil filter are changed. Also be sure the service technician checks your coolant, brakes, automatic transmission, windshield wipers, and power-steering fluids while they’re at it. These fluids are critical for keeping parts lubricated and preventing your engine from overheating.
Replace worn wiper blades and refill your washer solvent to the brim—especially if you will be traveling or live in a location with lots of dust and insects. On that note, clean your car regularly and park in the shade or in a garage, not only to maintain the brightness of your car’s paint, but experts say the hot summer sun can actually cause gas to evaporate!
You should know better than to leave your children or any pets in a parked car in the summer heat (or any time, for that matter!), but do you realize the damage that scorching sun can do to electronics as well? Or even sporting equipment? Tennis racquet strings can weaken and so can the shafts of golf clubs. And don’t get us started on makeup. Something like a melted lipstick will not only leave you searching for that shade of lip color again, but potentially searching for new upholstery. We know that’s a search you can live without!
The summer heat is no comfortable place for a car to break down. But like all unexpected things, it’s bound to happen at some point so you should prepare for the worst. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk at all times with items like jumper cables, an air compressor, tools, a first aid kit, and at least two gallons of water. The AAA 73 Piece Adventurer Road Assistance Kit is a way to get it all-in-one, and they can be purchased on Amazon.com.
Check your tire pressure before you start driving. Under-inflated tires can bulge out, putting pressure on the sidewalls and making them more susceptible to blowouts on hot roads.
These tips should have you and your car raring to go! Now, stop checking your emails and get to the beach.
Happy driving!
