In many ways, driving in the summer months is a lot easier than in the winter. You will see more daylight hours and you are less likely to have to drive in inclement weather. This means your car tyres should grip the road better given there shouldn’t be any black ice about. That said, car and tyre maintenance are both still important in the warmer part of the year. What tips should you follow this summer?
Oil checks: In the summer, your car will get hotter. This means that more demand is placed on your oil supplies. Of course, modern cars are very good at retaining lubricants but this doesn’t mean you should wait until your dashboard light comes on to warn you that the car is overheating. Often, this is too late.
Instead, allow your car to cool, take the dipstick out and wipe it. Then replace it and pull it out once more. If the oil level sits between the two marked points, then you have enough engine oil.
Check the battery: At times we just give importance to car parts that are visible to us, however there are other components in vehicles that help it run efficiently, like your car battery. Batteries contain a liquid mixture of acid and water. When the fluid level gets too low, the plates of the battery are not adequately protected and damage may occur. It is a good idea to check water levels in the battery along with recharging capacity.
Tyre fitting: New tyres will make all the difference to the smooth running of your car, especially if you drive over farmers’ tracks and so on to reach a campsite or the beach. Equally, tarmac with lots of bitumen can overheat in summer and black tar may start to ooze out. This can be picked up by tyres, lessening their grip and even damaging them.
Check that your tyres are street legal at a local tyre dealership like Ossett Tyre House. As well as letting you know whether your tyres are okay to drive on, Ossett Tyre House provides mobile tyre fitting in the Castleford area, great if you wake up to find you have a flat.
Screenwash top ups: Although it might sound obvious, screenwash isa big part of your car’s safety systems. Without it, you cannot see out of your windscreen properly, which means it is just as important as headlamps or wiper blades. The fact is that you will use more screenwash in summer as you tend to drive into insects more or park under sap-producing trees for shade. Make it a habit to top up every week or two from May to September.
Air-conditioning pressure: Your car’s air-con may seem like a luxury but it is almost essential in times of climate change when the peak of August can get unbearable behind the wheel. Check the internal ducting of your car’s system to ensure it is all fitting together properly and not losing pressure. You can always get it repressed by a regassing company, something that often makes a vehicle’s air-conditioning seem like it is new.
