Consumers spend thousands on car maintenance every year during the scorching summer season to get their ACs, fans, coolants and air filters repaired. Car experts blame it on the higher amounts of airborne dust during the dry and windy months, often making it much more susceptible to air filter damage.
Summer road trips will also cause your car to be more in need of general maintenance and repairs, no matter what state or part of the country you live in. Read on to learn the top three general maintenance repairs you should perform on your car to prepare for the summer months…
1) Maintain the coolant system- Have the radiator pressure tested, and your hoses examined for cracks and bulges. If you can’t remember the last time your water pump was replaced, or the pump has more miles on it than what the manufacturer recommends, then it’s a good idea to get a new one. Also make sure to replace your engine’s coolant, even if things look ok under the hood.
2) Check the air conditioning- This should be a no-brainer, but some people might assume everything is working fine on that end. During the hot summer months, your AC system is working overtime, especially during long, hot commutes, such as a road trip. So take the time to make sure everything is in shape to keep you cool. Give the poor AC some rest by using it for lesser time, while driving in evenings or nights.
3) Protect you car’s interior- Protect the inside of your car from sun and heat by always parking in the shade. If can’t manage to get a parking spot in the shade, cover your car with black translucent screen to control the amount the sunlight entering your car. If you have leather seats, get a leather conditioner and go over the seats to prevent cracks and dry spots. Or better, change your seat covers to cooler, cotton summer seat covers.
