Summer is coming and this means that more people will be out on the road traveling on vacation, going to ballgames, spending time at the lake or river, or heading to the beach.
It is important before you head out for your summertime events to make sure that your car is ready for running in the much hotter temperatures.
Here are some tips that will help make your summertime travel safer.
1. Check your car’s tire pressure and rotate the tires if needed. It is important to keep your tires properly inflated to avoid tire blow-outs. Rotating your tires can help extend the life of your tire tread.
2. Take your car to the mechanic for a tune-up.
3. In the summertime your car’s coolant can reach 250 degrees F. This means that your car could overheat. While you have the car in for its tune-up, make sure that the mechanic checks the radiator for any leaks or cracks. If needed, have the radiator flushed and new coolant added. If the coolant level is low, have them add coolant to the right level for your car.
4. The air conditioner should be inspected for any worn or damaged belts. It would be better to have it checked now than to have it possibly stop working while on a trip.
5. Have the oil changed in your car.
6. Your braking system’s temperature goes up with the hot weather. This can cause your brake pads to wear quicker. Before going on a summer trip, have your brakes checked to see how worn they are and replace them if necessary. It is much better to take preventive measures than to have your brakes go out while traveling on vacation.
7. Prepare an emergency kit for your car including a flashlight, a bottle of motor oil, windshield wiper fluid, a bottle of coolant, tire inflator, jumper cables, a toolkit, roll of paper towels, bottles of drinking water, trail mix or granola bars, a first aid kit, and your cellphone.
These are just some ideas to help you with summerizing your car and preventing any car problems while traveling. Knowing that you have taken steps to take care of your car will allow for a much more enjoyable vacation or weekend trip. What are some ways that you get your car ready for summer travel? Leave us a comment and let us know. We would love to hear from you.
Till next time,
JT Locke
The Frugal Housewife
About The Frugal Housewife
I miss summer.
Great article, though. I have a Seattle heating and air conditioning website and need to write something like this pertaining to the season changes. Unlike car air conditioners, house air conditioners don’t have belts (the furnace may), but they do require a cleaning and inspection each year as the manufacturers all recommend.
We all at times think winter is harder on our vehicles ! But the summer heat and ac running can be much more extreme on our car. Regular maintenance can avoid the costly summer repair