5 Car Maintenance Tips
In 5 Tips for Car Engine Maintenance, we went over simple ways to maintain your engine in the summer months. Here we address 5 more ways you can keep your car running in the heat.
- Check Your Tires -- Hot weather is the most difficult condition for your vehicle's tires. If your tires have any significant wear, cracks, or other damage you should replace immediately. Beyond that, you should check the air pressure in all the tires including the spare. Feel free to read our tire maintenance article for more tips on this subject.
- Replace Your Windshield Wipers -- Rubber wiper blades typically last around one year due to the change in temperatures, hot to cold. If your wipers aren't providing you with a clear view during wet conditions, you should have them replaced.
- Wax Your Exterior -- Both the sun and summer smog can cause damage to your vehicle's paint. During your next car wash, you should make sure to have your vehicle waxed or sprayed with a paint protector to shield it from the harm of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
- Get a Sun Shade -- Nobody likes getting into a car that is baking inside -- so why not get a sun shade for your vehicle so the interior doesn't get so hot when it is parked in direct sunlight? Besides keeping your car at a much more manageable temperature, a sunshade will also protect your car's interior surfaces from fading or cracking.
- Protect Yourself -- Lastly, your car will only be as cool as the driver that's in it -- so make sure to protect yourself during the hot weather. A few summer time necessities include sunscreen for the arms (especially if you put your arm out the window), sunglasses for the eyes so you can always see well, a baseball cap if you have a convertible, and a bottle of water to keep you hydrated along the way.
Keeping your car maintained will help protect you against car accidents and roadside breakdowns.
Please see Automotive Consumer Help & Advice for more articles.
