Summer is about road trips, vacations, swimming pools, beaches, sunscreen and sometimes uncomfortable heat. Keep you and your car cool this summer with a few hot weather driving tips from Dave Sinclair Buick GMC.
Check coolant levels.
Low coolant levels allow your vehicle’s engine to overheat, so make sure the coolant in your vehicle’s engine is at the suggested level. When you check the coolant, make sure you check it when the engine is cold. Hot engines may still have boiling coolant which can spray. A 50/50 ratio of water and antifreeze is typical standard practice for coolant.
Check the air conditioner and cooling fan.
Checking the air conditioner at the beginning of summer is mainly for your comfort. It won’t hurt your vehicle if you don’t run the air conditioner, but it’s good to know it’s working properly should you need it. If the air doesn’t seem cold, you might need an air conditioner recharge or there might be a leak. If the cooling fan isn’t running when the air conditioner is on high, then have it checked. It could be a worn fan clutch, which can cause the engine to overheat.
Check the oil.
You should always check engine oil levels year round, and because summer heat can make a car’s engine work extra hard, it’s good practice to use heavier viscosity oil during the summer.
Check the tires.
Underinflated tires can cause blowouts due to the extreme heat. For that reason, it’s good practice to not only check tire pressure regularly but also check tire tread wear. If the tire is old and worn, consider getting new tires.
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