Heat and Your Vehicle

You need to be prepared for heat, especially when the temperatures soar in the summer months. The best way to make sure your car runs smoothly is to prevent it from happening. Here are five tips to keep your car safe in hot temperatures.

You should check your battery

Hot, scorching days can be very damaging to your car's battery. To ensure your battery is in top shape before the heat of summer, test it. Because battery fluid evaporates rapidly in hot weather conditions, make sure you keep your eyes on your battery terminals to remove any corrosion.

Keep fluids topped-off

In heat waves, fluids are especially important as they help to cool the engine. This includes motor oil and brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering liquid. It's more difficult to remove heat from the engine's components if these fluids are too low.

Have you recently had your engine's coolant replaced? Check your owner’s manual to find out if the coolant should be changed. Make sure the coolant level is maintained.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Try to find a spot that's shaded or underground when looking for a place to park.

Leave your windows open a little more than an inch. You can buy tinted windows visors to reflect light and make it less obvious that they are down for security purposes.

Use a Sun Shade

It is a smart idea to have a windshield shade in case you need it. Shades for your windshield keep your car's interior cool and prevent sunlight from damaging your car. If your car is left in the sun for too long, it could result in a dry-looking, cracked dashboard.

Keep your vehicle clean, dry and protected

Protect your dash with a detailing item to minimize glare. Covers for your car seat can be used to keep them cool. Keep leather seats conditioned in hot weather to prevent cracks.

You can damage your vehicle's exterior by sunlight and high temperatures. Waxing your vehicle is a great way of protecting it from the harmful UV rays.

Maintenance of tires, hoses, and belts

Hot days can make it difficult to inflate tires properly, and could lead to a serious problem. Hot weather makes it more likely that hoses, drive belts and other components will fail. Therefore, make sure you inspect them to make sure they are in good condition.

Get more information about how to protect your vehicle from summer heat. Contact us today