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Car Care & Driving in Hot Weather

Tips on how to ensure you & your vehicle survive our hot summer

With some of the highest temperatures since 2006 been recorded this week, drivers need to consider the effects of the heat on their vehicle and themselves whilst driving. Extreme heat can push your vehicle past its limits, and leave you sitting at the side of the road in extreme heat waiting for the recovery truck. With this in mind we want to offer you some simple tips that may help your vehicle breaking from down.

  • Check your coolant levels and make sure your coolant reservoir is filled to the right level, as a low coolant level may possibly enable your engine to overheat. Never open the radiator cap when the radiator is hot to check your coolant levels as hot steam and boiling coolant may well spray out and burn you. If your levels are low make sure you add in your ready to use coolant or a mixture of 50/50 water and concentrated coolant. Never just use water, as adding coolant to the water will help raise the boiling temperature of the mixture which will also guard against corrosion.
  • Summer more than winter causes more battery problems. While the cold can make the car harder to start as the current finds it difficult to travel, the heat causes the battery fluid to evaporate; this is then damaging the internal structure of the battery. Make sure the battery is mounted securely to prevent vibration; clean corrosion from battery terminals, as if corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow; and, if the battery is older than three years, have it tested.
  • Test your air conditioner. Ensure the air conditioner blows cold air and it is operating adequately. Nothing is worse than been stuck inside your vehicle with no air conditioner and the temperatures soaring hot. In the event your air conditioner is not really blowing cold air, your system needs to be checked by your mechanic as soon as possible. If your vehicle doesn’t have air conditioning, be sure to have plenty of cool water with you and ensure your windows are working as driving in hot temperatures can make you feel sleepy.
  • Check your wipers, the hot weather may mean little to no rain, but you will find you will still have a need for your wipers, as the amount of bugs in the air increases with the heat and these bugs do end up stuck to your windscreen and cause an obstruction to your view when driving, therefore you need to ensure your wiper blades are in good working order and that your wipers are working. You also need to ensure your screen wash reservoir is also topped up regularly and using a good quality screen wash can help in the removal of these bugs. (Check out our blog this Friday for a product focus on our screen washes)
  • Check your tires and make sure the thread is ok on them and that they are inflated properly. Underinflated tires make the tires run hot and along with the hot air temperatures there is an increased risk of a blowout.
  • As usual it is very important to check all your vehicles fluid levels and top up were necessary your engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc.

Another few tip for you and your passengers when traveling during the good weather is to ensure you have a cap and sunscreen in the car in case you do breakdown and are stuck waiting on the recovery truck as you may choose to wait outside. Have plenty of water with you to prevent you dehydrating, especially on long journeys. If the heat is making you feel tired, pull over and take a break. When carrying young children in the car you should use some form of sun shade to help keep the sun of them when beside a window.

For more information on coolants, screen wash and lubricants follow our blog or contact us here in Finol.