Beat the Heat: 5 Essential Summer Car Care Tips to Avoid a Breakdown

Beat the Heat: 5 Essential Summer Car Care Tips to Avoid a Breakdown

To keep your summer cruising smooth and stress-free, here is your ultimate summer car care checklist.

Most people associate battery failure with winter, but heat is actually a battery's worst enemy . High under-hood temperatures speed up internal corrosion and cause battery fluid to evaporate.

● The Fix: Look for signs of a struggling battery, like a slow engine crank or dimming headlights. If your battery is more than three years old, get it tested at an auto parts store. Many places will do this for free!

● Pro Tip: Clean any white, powdery corrosion off the terminals with a wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water.

Your engine works incredibly hard in the summer, and the cooling system is all that stands between you and a cloud of roadside steam. Operating an engine without proper coolant can lead to catastrophic (and expensive) overheating.

● The Fix: Check your coolant reservoir level. If it’s low, top it off with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water (or pre-mixed coolant) recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.

● Safety Warning: Never open a hot radiator cap. The system is under intense pressure, and you will get burned. Wait for the engine to cool completely.

As the temperature rises, so does the air pressure inside your tires. For every 10°F change in ambient temperature, your tire pressure can change by about 1 PSI. Driving on over-inflated tires reduces traction and causes uneven wear, while under-inflated tires overheat quickly and can lead to a dangerous blowout.

Tire Condition

The Risk

What to Do

Under-inflated

High friction, overheating, blowouts, poor gas mileage

Inflate to the PSI listed on your driver's door jamb.

Over-inflated

Harsh ride, reduced traction, uneven center tread wear

Bleed out excess air until you hit the recommended PSI.

Note: Always check your tire pressure in the morning before you drive. Driving heats up the tires and will give you an inaccurate, artificially high reading.

There is nothing worse than hitting a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam in 95°F weather only to realize your air conditioning is blowing lukewarm air.

● The Fix: If your AC isn't blowing ice-cold, it might have a minor refrigerant leak or a clogged cabin air filter. Replacing the cabin air filter is usually a cheap, 5-minute DIY fix that drastically improves airflow and removes dust and pollen. If it's still blowing warm, it's time to visit a mechanic for a system pressure check.

Summer storms can bring sudden, torrential downpours. If your wiper blades are cracked or streaking from the intense sun, you’ll be driving blind. Additionally, your car relies on various fluids to keep moving parts lubricated and cool.

● Check your oil: High heat thins out oil; ensure you are changed up and at the correct level.

● Swap your wipers: If they leave streaks or make a chattering noise, replace them immediately.

● Fill the washer fluid: Keep a summer-specific fluid handy to help blast away baked-on bugs and highway grime.

Before you put the key in the ignition for that long weekend getaway, do a quick "WALK" check:

1. W ipers: Clean and functioning?

2. A ir: Tires properly inflated (including the spare)?

3. L ights: Are all headlights, blinkers, and brake lights working?

4. K it: Do you have an emergency kit with water, jumper cables, and a flashlight?

By spending just 20 minutes checking these essentials, you can ensure your summer memories are made at your destination, not on the side of the highway waiting for a tow truck.

Safe travels!