The worse of the North Carolina winter is almost finally behind us. Which, fortunately, means that warmer weather is just around the corner. This is undoubtedly good news for those who are sick of the cold or anyone suffering from the winter blues. Nonetheless, this gradual warming isn’t always as good for your car as it may be for you. The extreme summer heat presents a number of different challenges for vehicles, which is why it’s important that you start thinking about these things now to avoid potential problems in the future. With this in mind, here are a few simple suggestions to ensure your vehicle is fully prepared for those long spring drives and summer road trips.
Summer Car Care Tips to Ensure You Beat the Heat
Both summer and winter present their own unique difficulties for drivers and their vehicles, which means you’ll want to ensure your vehicle is fully prepared for these seasonal changes. Even if you don’t plan on taking any road trips this summer or altering your driving routine in any way, the fact is that the extreme Raleigh summer heat can still adversely affect your vehicle and your driving in numerous ways. Therefore, it is essential that you check each of the following factors to ensure you’re ready for whatever spring and summer throw your way.
Motor Oil
Oil is truly the life-blood of your vehicle’s engine, which is why its so essential that you follow your manufacturer’s recommended oil-change schedule to maintain peak performance. Still, it isn’t just enough to change your oil regularly as you also need to make sure you use the right type of oil. The fact that motor oil tends to become much thinner at high temperatures means that many manufacturers recommend using a slightly heavier weight oil during the summer to ensure proper lubrication and protection of your engine and its components.
Air Filters
Your vehicle’s engine also requires a steady flow of clean air to ensure peak levels of performance. The problem is that spring and summer bring with them an increased amount of dirt, dust and pollen, which can quickly take your engine’s air filters from merely dirty to completely clogged. Therefore, it is a good idea to check your air filters sometime in late winter or early spring and change them if they appear overly dirty.
Windshield Wipers
Your windshield wipers will typically end up taking a huge beating over the course of the winter as they are constantly met with snow and ice. As a result, the wiper blades often get worn down to almost nothing by the time winter is over, which makes them nowhere near capable of handling strong spring rains. This can potentially lead to extremely hazardous conditions should your wipers fail in the middle of a huge downpour, which is why you’ll want to make sure to change your wiper blades if you notice they’re becoming worn down.
Tires
Hot summer asphalt can be particularly tough on your tires, so you’ll want to make sure they’re in good condition before the worst of the summer heat rolls around. This means performing a visual inspection to make sure the tires are free from damage and still have plenty of tread left. Your tire’s air pressure can also fluctuate with temperature changes, so this is something you’ll also want to occasionally check.
Cooling System
Overheating is one of the most common problems drivers experience during the summer, and this is precisely why you’ll want to make sure your cooling system is working properly while the weather is still somewhat cool. This means potentially having your engine coolant changed or having your entire cooling system flushed depending on how long it’s been since you last had this performed.
Air Conditioning
You obviously want to make sure your air conditioner is fully functioning before the sweltering summer heat returns, and now is a good time to test your A/C to ensure it pumps out plenty of cool. This way, you will have ample time to get it repaired before summer if you notice any problems.
Brakes
Your brakes are obviously important at all times of the year. Still, driving on slick and icy roads throughout the winter can quickly wear down your brakes if you’re not careful. Therefore, now is a good time to give your braking system a good test to make sure everything works well. Pay special attention to how the brakes sound and feel, and if you notice anything out of the ordinary, immediately bring your vehicle in to have your braking system fully inspected. This way, you can guarantee that your brake pads, rotors and other braking components are in good shape.
It is essential that you make sure your vehicle is ready before the summer repair and maintenance rush happens. Therefore, if you notice any problems with your vehicle or are in need of any regular maintenance or repairs, don’t hesitate to contact Triangle Car Care. Our team is standing by to help you get your car ready for summer in any way we can.
