summer Archives — Auto Trends Magazine

Check the Battery

An old battery may not survive the summer. If your car’s battery is near the end of its useful life, then replace it. Older batteries simply cannot provide a full charge and won’t be able to handle the heavy electric demands placed on it by your climate control system, navigation, audio system, and lights. Newer batteries can also fail if there is a build-up of corrosion. You can safely remove battery corrosion yourself, a job best handled with baking soda, a few hand tools, and petroleum jelly.

Change Your Fluids

Most drivers will change their oil twice annually or at least as often as the intervals outlined in their owner’s manual. Timing your oil changes to take place before extreme temperatures kick in is a sensible approach to preventive maintenance. Your owner’s manual will list the right oil grade for your car. You will notice some differences in viscosity between winter and summer oils, the latter permitting a slightly thicker oil. Where 5W30 oil may be needed in the winter, 10W30 oil may be ideal for the summer. Change your oil fluids at this time and do the same for your brake, power steering, and transmission fluids.

Examine Belts and Hoses

A broken belt or a cracked hose can leave you stranded. Most of the time you can prevent such breakdowns by examining belts and hoses periodically. Visible signs of cracking, fraying, and bulging are among the warnings telling you that something needs to be replaced. Other signs are not so apparent and require a more thorough examination. For belts, you can check for tightness when the engine is turned off. Simply press down on each belt with your thumb and if you observe that it gives more than one-quarter of an inch, it should be replaced.

Belts and hoses are subject to wear and tear.

For hoses, particularly the vacuum hose, you will want to examine it when the car is running. Lift and secure the hood, and listen for a hissing noise. Avoid any moving parts by carefully moving your hand across the surface of the hose to discover its leak. Your fingers will be pulled against the hose if a leak is apparent and the car’s idle may change as you cover the hole. Replace as needed.

Check Climate and Coolant Systems

Your climate control system cools your car’s cabin. Your coolant system keeps your engine running smoothly, sending cooling fluids through the engine block to prevent overheating. Both systems should be examined prior to your next summer road trip. If you had your coolant replaced within the past year, you can top off a cooled down radiator with a 50:50 mixture of coolant and water. Otherwise, replace coolant that has been in place for at least a year.

You can purchase a radiator flush kit and do the job yourself or let your mechanic handle it. Either way, it isn’t a job you want to put off as a blown engine gasket may be the price you will have to pay for your neglect. Your climate control system contains refrigerant and this fluid can leak, forcing your compressor to work harder. That puts a strain on your engine and, like the coolant system, it is a key contributor to summer breakdowns. Your mechanic can pressure test the system, diagnose problems and replenish the refrigerant.

Take Note of the Rubber

Excessive heat causes the rubber to lose its elasticity, wearing out your wiper blades faster. You want a good pair of blades in place for your summer drive and replacing them with silicone rubber provides improved visibility and durability. Your tires are also made from rubber and are subject to aging as well as wear and tear.

Excessive heat can magnify tire problems causing tires to flex more. Cracks, rot or other problems can quickly lead to tire failure. Keep your tires inflated to the proper level, rotate them every 6,000 miles, and replace your worn-out rubber.

As summer’s heat settles in, your car should be ready to handle the worst weather conditions. Ensure that your headlights, turn signal lights, and tail lights are in working order too, replacing burnt-out bulbs as needed.

Temperature extremes can wreak havoc on your car, increasing the likelihood of a problem leading to a breakdown. Indeed, sub-zero weather may keep your car from starting, while a heatwave can cause it to overheat.

Summer weather is here and with it comes extreme temperatures. No, the Fahrenheit does not need to top 90 degrees to cause mischief. However, a combination of poor maintenance habits and heat can conspire to suddenly disable your car, forcing you to call for assistance.

Here’s how to keep your car running during hot weather.

Examine Your Owner’s Manual

The best way to avoid a breakdown is to keep your car properly maintained. And that maintenance is outlined in your owner’s manual, typically tucked away in your glove box, gathering dust.

Pull out the owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with it. Learn what maintenance due items are coming up and complete them, especially if you are planning a long trip. Look back as well — you may have missed something.

Consider Severe Duty Car Care

As you examine your owner’s manual, you will typically find two levels of car care — standard and severe service. Severe duty may pertain only to a few things, such as changing the oil and fluids.

Standard care routinely covers vehicles where owners drive to work or use their cars for personal use. On the other hand, severe service should be applied to vehicles operated in dusty conditions or for vehicles used to regularly tow, operate in sandy areas, or aren’t driven enough.

Adopt the severe schedule if you live in a southern state or wherever high temperatures are constant for several months during the summer. Older vehicles or models with 75,000 or miles on the odometer should also adhere to the more rigorous severe duty schedule, covering oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and radiator coolant changes. Include your filter changes — oil, air, and fuel — and replace your cabin filter too.

Under the Hood

Beyond fluids, there are other things to examine while you’re looking under the hood. Start with your car’s battery to ensure the connection points are clean and secure. If your battery is old, check it with a voltmeter. If the battery voltage comes in less than 12.45 volts, it should be recharged with a battery charger. If the battery will not accept and hold a charge, then it should be replaced.

Belts and hoses are two other areas that must be checked. For belts, look for signs of wear and tear, sliding your fingers across the belt to pinpoint cracking, fraying, and missing sections. Check tension by pushing down on the belt. If it gives more than a half-inch, then change it.

As for hoses, check only when the engine has cooled. A hose is sufficient if it feels firm to the touch. On the other hand, you’ll want to replace it if has soft or mushy areas. Cracks and fraying are two other problems — both can lead to leaks.

Don’t Forget Your Tires

The only things separating two tons of car from the road are your tires. Thus, it is very important your tires are in top shape, especially for your next trip.

When properly inflated, tires offer sufficient grip on road surfaces. Oppositely, under-inflated tires can affect fuel economy, handling, and hasten tire wear. Tires with tread wear indicators showing should be replaced.

Adequately inflate your tires to the level outlined on the placard located on the driver’s door jamb. Don’t follow the number listed on the tires. Your spare tire should be in excellent shape and fully inflated. But know this: if your car is equipped with an air inflator kit, it won’t do you any good if you have a blowout. Therefore, consider bringing a full-size spare with you.

Getting it Done

There are a few more areas of your car to examine before you take to the road this summer.

Replace your worn wiper blades, check the air conditioning for sufficient cooling, replace burnt out lights, and test your brakes. Blades and bulb replacement you can handle yourself; coolant systems and brake care may require the assistance of an automotive technician.

Finally, you handle most problems en route if your car is equipped with basic tools, a flashlight and replacement batteries, duct tape, and a spare belt and hoses. An emergency kit contains many of these same items and can be assembled on your own or purchased.

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summer

How to Prepare Your Car for a
Long, Hot Summer