Tips for “SUMMERIZING” Your Vehicle

Is your vehicle ready for summer? The summer sun and high temperatures wears on your vehicle, so it is important to take precautions to protect it. So, follow these few, simple tips that can help prevent your car from becoming a victim of summer heat:

Tip 1: Make sure you have the right tires

If you use seasonal tires during the winter months, you will want to change these out when it starts to get warmer. Keeping winter tires on during the summer wears them down and leaves them unprepared for the winter months. We recommend either using all-season tires throughout the year or having two different sets of tires – summer and winter – and switching between the two during the year.
Regardless of the option you go with when looking at tires for sale, you should always keep an eye on their pressure. Check your owner’s manual for the correct tire pressure and make sure to maintain tires at their proper inflation. This assures the best contact between the tires and the road, improves the tires’ life cycle, and improves gas mileage. Note that checking the tire pressure is most accurately done when the tires are cold, so the best time of the day to check them is in the morning.

Tip 2: Check on the A/C system

Since you most likely didn’t use the A/C during the winter months, it may need cleaning or service. Run the A/C system to be sure it still runs cold and check for unusual sounds or odors before taking off. If something seems off, definitely take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for further examination.

Tip 3: Check the wiper fluid & blades

After the winter, it is likely that you will need to refill your windshield wiper fluid as you use a lot of it to de-ice the windshield during the colder season. On the same note, you should check the condition of your wiper blades at the beginning of the summer. Make sure they are fully intact and not streaking the window. So long as you can keep your windshield clean and clear, you’re good to go!

Tip 4: Perform an under-the-hood inspection

When the engine is cold, you should perform an under-the-hood inspection to examine a few key items:
• Corrosion on the battery terminals: Check for corrosion and clean as needed. Corrosion can be cleaned off with baking soda and a toothbrush. Most modern batteries (in cars built in the past 10-15 years) are “maintenance-free,” meaning they don’t require the corrosion spot to be topped off with water. After you have cleaned it, check the battery again in a few weeks; if the corrosion is still there, it could be a more serious issue and needs attention as soon as possible.
• Oil: You should get an oil change every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. Additionally, if the maintenance light is on, you need to take it for service and change the oil. If it’s simply low, top it off and monitor it to ensure it is not a larger issue.
• Coolant: Check both the coolant’s level in the reservoir and its condition. You want clear, not cloudy! If it needs to be topped off, use the pre-diluted mixtures.
• Brake Fluid: If the brake fluid is running low, do not top it off. Instead, take it to your dealer or mechanic. Brake fluid is either low to match the wear on the pads or there is a leak, but both issues need to be addressed.. There may be a problem with the brake system so a closer look is imperative.

Tip 5: Wax on, wash off

Road salt and grime are both culprits of exterior damage on vehicles. This means it is important to get your car cleaned and waxed after the season. So, when the winter is just about over, get a car wash and wax to prevent rust and other harmful damage to your vehicle.

Source: Content for this blog was obtained from Edmunds.com.