You like to do what you can to stay cool in the summer; the same goes for your car. Over time, coolant begins to break down and no longer provides efficient cooling leading to expensive repairs. To maintain efficiency, get a radiator flush at least once a year. This helps your engine work easier, which increases your fuel efficiency.
2. Change Air Filters
All the air filters in your vehicle should be replaced at least twice a year. This means the one under the hood and any cabin air filters you may have. Replacing the air filters makes sure that not only your engine is getting the proper amount of clean air, but also you and your passengers are breathing clean air. There tends to be many more particles and allergens in the air during summer time, and filtering them out not only keeps your engine running better, but allows you to enjoy cleaner healthier air inside your vehicle.
3. Check the Tires
Summer means storms, and if the tread on your tires are not what they should be, it can lead to unsafe driving situations on wet roads. Checking your tires includes having the correct amount of air pressure. Making sure you have the correct tire pressure is important because you will get the most out of your tank of gas for those summer trips.
4. Replace Wiper Blades
Replacing your windshield wipers can make the difference between being able to see you’re way clearly and being blinded by a sudden summer rain. Winter weather with all the ice and salt quickly deteriorate the rubber blades on your windshield wipers. Replacing them at the start of the summer is the best way to know that if you are caught in a summer rain shower, you will see your way safely.
5. Check Brakes
You want to make sure that your brake system is working the way it should. You should check the system at least twice a year, especially before winter and before summer. Salt and other chemicals used on the roads in the winter can cause excess wear on your brake pads, leaving you with less stopping power. You also want to check your brake fluid. Brake fluid does evaporate through use. The brake system is a closed system and any large drop in fluid level can mean you may have a leak that requires repairs. If there is a significant drop in the amount of fluid you’ll want to take it to your mechanic and have it looked at.
6. Clean the Battery
Salt water splashing up under your car in the winter can cause corrosion on your battery. A buildup of corrosion can lead to a battery that will not keep a charge, leaving you stranded. It is also good for your vehicle’s electrical system to have a battery that is working at full capacity. If your battery looks corroded, a wire brush on the terminals will remove it. You also want to make sure that your cables are connected snugly and that they have no signs of damage. This takes five minutes, and can save you hours of waiting on the side of the road for a tow truck in the hot sun.
7. Check the Lights
You want to make sure that your headlights, as well as the rest of your exterior lights, are working properly. Making sure that all your turn signals and brake lights are working let other drivers know what you are doing, decreasing the chance of an accident. Replacing bulbs if needed is quick and easy, and can keep you from paying tickets, or worse, getting in an accident.
8. Clean the Car – Inside and Out
Keep the outside of your car clean. A clean windshield, inside and outside, means clear visibility. Keeping your lights clear of dirt makes them visible to other drivers. Keep the inside of your car clean of debris. Using your car as a trash can is not only unsanitary but also unsafe. Trash and debris on the floor can blow around and cause a distraction. Worse yet, if any of the debris ends up under your gas or brake pedal it could cause an accident. Summer heat is also not trash friendly; it breeds bacteria. Do yourself and your passengers a favor keep your vehicle clean.
Being safe is the most important key to summer driving. Nothing can ruin a summer road trip than being stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck in the hot summer sun. It is always better to think ahead and prevent problems rather than trying to fix them once they occur. So, maintain your car and enjoy your summer road trip.
Source: CarInsuranceQuotesOnline.com
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