Five Car Components to Protect This Summer
June 9, 2014
Don’t let summer eat your car! Park it in the shade whenever possible to protect vital car components from the effects of extreme heat. During the hottest days of summer, these are the big five things to look out for when temperatures soar into the triple digits.
All drivers can benefit from a few basic summer car care tips. Learn the big five to help your vehicle survive this summer’s heat wave:
Gas
Don’t worry, you’re probably not going to blow up or anything. However, driving and fueling up during the hottest time of day (around 2 PM – 4 PM) will waste much more gas and seriously drain your wallet.
Battery
High temperatures destroy car batteries. The heat causes battery acid to evaporate, dramatically shortening its lifespan and leaving drivers stranded during the hottest days of summer. By parking in the shade, regularly testing your battery, and replacing batteries older than 3 years, you can prevent the hassle of suffering through a dead battery. Also, it couldn’t hurt to always keep a set of jumper cables handy.
Windshield Wipers
Yes, your windshield wipers can melt – well, sort of. Triple digit temperatures cause wipers to get stuck to the glass, a result of slight deterioration caused by extreme heat. This can be dangerous if you happen to press your windshield washer button while driving and the wipers fail. However, you can prevent wipers from sticking by simply using them on a regular basis. So go ahead press that windshield washer button when you start the car each morning. That way you’ll have a clean windshield and reliable wipers.
Tires
The risk of catastrophic tire failure is much higher when temperatures soar. In mild weather, a damaged or improperly inflated tire may just go flat, while in hotter weather it could cause a more serious blowout. Catastrophic tire failure often results in more dangerous auto accidents and even rollovers and deadly collisions. By checking for tire damage and proper inflation regularly, drivers can prevent suffering through a summer tire blowout. Since temperatures can vary up to 30 degrees in the summer – from a 100-degree day to a 70-degree night – it’s important to check your tire pressure daily.
Transmission
Because summer time is also play time, many drivers hook up the boat or camper trailer during this time of year. However, many new drivers fail to check and see if their transmission can handle the strain. Pulling too much weight can be a transmission killer. However, a little bit of towing knowledge and some auxiliary transmission oil cooler protect your vehicle when towing the boat or jet ski. It’s best to leave the bigger, heavier trailers to heavy-duty trucks.
Here Comes the Sun: Summer Car Care Tips
June 7, 2014
That great ball of fire in the sky, our beloved sun, seems to be growing hotter by the day. Its awesome power can cause some serious damage to vehicles in the summer – from cracked paint to smoking engines – so it’s important to know a few basic summer car care tips.
Don’t Let Your Battery Burn Out
Extreme heat can destroy your vehicle’s battery. Hot temperatures cause battery fluid to evaporate, and that interior damage will eventually lead to a dead battery, leaving you stranded (possibly with a car full of quickly-spoiling groceries). Drivers can prevent this inconvenience by taking a few precautions:
- Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt and dust become conductors, which drain battery power. Plus, the corrosion accumulated on battery terminals becomes an insulator, which inhibits current flow.
- Check battery fluid regularly. If you have the type of battery that needs to be topped off, check it often during these high-temperature summer days. Add distilled water when necessary.
- Test battery at every oil change. Most automotive shops and some auto parts stores have electronic testers available that can give you a snapshot of your battery’s condition.
- Replace battery on it’s way out – not after it dies. Or better yet, replace your battery every 2 – 4 years (or whenever the warranty is up) and save yourself some trouble.
Keep it Clean
Dirt, sand and debris on the surface of your car and engine can cause permanent damage. Visit the car wash often, especially after a trip to the beach. Be sure to use engine cleaner and finish with coat of wax to protect your paint from the sun, as well as repel future dirt, debris and water spots.
Park it in the Shade
This is an obvious one, however, finding that shade is sometimes very difficult. When there is no available tree cover or parking garages, you can use timing and infrastructure to find shade on the hottest of days. In the AM, drivers can find shade on the west side of taller buildings, and in the PM, the shade will be on the east side of buildings.
Windshield Cover
Using a windshield sunshade will keep your car’s interior much cooler. It also prevents deterioration of the dash board, steering wheel, center console and car seats.
Crack Your Windows
This little bit of ventilation makes a huge difference in your vehicle’s interior temperatures. Remember, cracked windows will prevent cracked car seats.
Keep these pointers in mind, and this summer won’t be too terribly rough on your ride. Knowing about summer car care tips is a good way to help your vehicle live a long and happy life.