More Summertime Tips

Here are some more tips to help you get through the summer.

1. Perform coolant flushes on a regular basis. Coolant breaks down over time, causing it to lose its lubricant properties, increase its freezing point, and become more acidic. It is recommended to change your coolant every four years (or 50,000 miles) so your engine won’t experience coolant issues in the future.
2. Leave your windows cracked slightly. This will reduce the heat that gets into your car as well as vent the odors that occur inside your car from the heat.
3. Wax your car to protect the finish. When summer arrives, it’s best to wash your car and add a decent coat of wax. This will protect your car’s paint from summer temperatures.
4. Keep an eye on your oil level. While this should be done often throughout the year, it’s important to maintain this during summer. Oil helps regulate the temperature of your engine; if the level gets low, the oil temp can rise high very quickly, causing it to degrade and become thin, as well as lose its lubrication properties.
5. Keep your dashboard conditioned. This will create an extra layer of protection from the heat, preventing it from drying out and cracking. A light coat of mineral oil works great for this; just don’t add protectant to your steering wheel or shifter, as this will make them slippery.
6. Leave your pets at home. Even if you plan on leaving the windows rolled down, summer temperatures can be deadly to pets, especially when they’re left waiting in a vehicle. Many pets die every year from being left in hot cars; don’t let this happen to yours.
7. Switch out your tires. If you’re still driving on winter tires, you may want to get a new set. Winter tires are made of softer tread material that stays soft during colder temperatures, allowing tires to have better traction. Winter tires also have smaller tread blocks with more siping, which disperses snow and water without the risk of hydroplaning. This makes the tires vulnerable to accelerated wear and creates poor handling during summer. If you don’t want to invest in both winter and summer tires, it may be best to purchase all season tires.
8. Don’t drive on low fuel. In order for the fuel pump motor to stay cool, it must be surrounded by fuel. When the level is low, it is susceptible to overheating, which results in premature failure. You’re at greater risk of failure during summer, due to high temperatures outside.
9. Remove any food/drink products from your car. High temperatures can spoil or melt your food, canned drinks can explode, etc. Remove water bottles also, as the chemicals in the plastic bottles can seep into the water, causing health problems over time.