Summer Car Care and Maintenance Tips
Advice for getting on the road safely this summer.
Despite high gas prices, summer is still a time when many people find themselves getting behind the wheel to do a bit of traveling. It’s time for water parks and themed resorts. It’s time to drive through the mountains, and it’s time to head to the beach.
But before you hit the road, you’re going to want to give your car a good once-over to make sure it’s in reliably drivable condition and in good enough shape to get you to your destination and back home safely.
Check Your Coolant Levels
While engines will run hot in winter, it’s essential to make sure you’re not running too hot when the unforgiving summer months arrive. Check your coolant levels. If you’re below the minimum line, add some fluid immediately.
Look for any possible leaks, especially at joints and connection points. Make sure the hoses are firm and not squishy. If your engine temperature starts heading into the red zone, have it checked right away.
Check All Essential Fluids
Your car’s fluids should be checked regularly anyway. After your coolant check, take a few minutes to check your oil, transmission fluid, power steering, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Top off as necessary.
If you suspect you’re losing fluid more quickly than you should or see suspicious puddles under the car, take your vehicle in for a maintenance inspection.
Inspect Your Air-Conditioning System
While your air-conditioning may not have been a priority during the cooler months, it’s an absolute necessity for summer. If you’re not getting cold air, the chances are good that you have a leak someplace.
Before paying to have your air-conditioning system recharged, confirm that no leaks are contributing to the problem.
Clean Or Replace Your Air Filters
If it’s been a while since you’ve thought about your car’s air filters, now is the time to give them a look. Between dead leaves, pollen, dust, and general engine operation, your filters could be getting a bit clogged, which will affect your vehicle’s performance. Depending on the condition of your air filter, you can then choose to either clean or replace it.
If you have a car with pollen filters or a cabin filtration system, you should be able to change those filters reasonably easily.
Conduct Tire Maintenance
You should check your tires regularly all year round. That said, the heat of summer can be tough on tires, so you want to go into the season confident in their performance.
Check tire pressures, and examine your treads for wear or any small rocks caught in there. Look for bald spots, cracks, or any suspicious bulges. If you notice uneven wear, that could signify that your tires need to be balanced or realigned. Taking care of this immediately will increase the life of your tires and improve your mileage.
Finally, make sure your spare tire is in good condition and that you have all the tools necessary for changing a flat tire.
Check Engine Belt
These are hardy car parts, but they don’t last forever, and the last thing you want is a broken belt forcing you to the side of the road. This can be especially true if it’s a hot day and you need the air conditioning in working order.
Examine your engine belts for any cracks or other signs of deterioration. If you’ve been hearing a squealing sound, that means a belt is coming loose and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Put Together an Emergency Bag
The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” is good advice for everyone. As careful as you may be about making sure your car is in excellent condition, you can never tell what’s around the corner.
Before heading out on a long trip, pack an extra bag with essential items you might need in an emergency.
Some items to have on hand could include:
- First aid kit
- Water bottles and some non-spoilable food
- Radio and flashlights with extra batteries
- Extra set of clothes
- A small cache of money (enough for a tow or night at a motel)
- Road flares
- Road maps
- Small tool kit
- A couple of good books (just in case you’re in for a long wait)
Even if you aren’t going on a long trip, an emergency bag stuffed into the corner of your trunk is always a good idea. You may also want to add to your trunk some jumper cables, a couple of quarts of oil, a jug of antifreeze/coolant, and a can of Fix-a-Flat tire sealant.
Have a Great Summer
Simple car maintenance can not only make your summer road trip safer, but it can help improve your mileage — an important consideration given fuel prices these days.
Most of all, regular maintenance will give you greater confidence no matter where or how far you travel.b
So have a great summer, and drive safe!
This guest post is sponsored by LaSculoa MotorWorks, offering vehicle repair and maintenance services in Baltimore County, Maryland, for over 30 years.
About John Teehan
John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2.
Do you like poetry, short fiction, and general oddities? Check out my new book, Life Among Psychopaths: an unexpected potpourri, now available on Amazon.