Summers are becoming hotter in the UK with temperature striking 40°C.
While summer is a great opportunity to take road trips, visit family, or head out to enjoy some coolness by the beach-your car is prone to some issues that could bring some inconvenience.
But most people assume winter is the toughest season for cars or get engrossed with the summer activities, so they neglect car care during the summer months.
At the peak of summer when cars have to run under steamy temperatures and dry conditions-your car’s performance and safety can be impacted.
And yes, modern cars were designed to run smoothly under extreme weather conditions, but the potential of issues arising isn’t totally extinguished if maintenance is neglected.
It’s important you’re aware of these issues, so you can engage in necessary maintenance practices to lessen the impact of the summer heat on your car.
You would hate battling with a broken-down vehicle in the middle of the road on a hot summer afternoon.
If you have concerns about your vehicle, get in touch with our team. We are one of the leading providers of car servicing in Tunbridge Wells.
5 Common Vehicle Problems In Summer And Maintenance Practices To Avoid Them
Overheating Engine
Cars are built to run under hot temperatures but they also have a limit beyond which they’ll become less efficient.
And though cars are equipped with a cooling system that uses a coolant, fans, hoses, pumps, thermostats e.t.c. to keep them running at an optimal temperature, any issue with these cooling mechanisms will cause your car to overheat and break down.
Issues like low coolant level, radiator leak or missing radiator cap, broken hoses, and loose or bursted belts are common problems.
Sitting in long traffic makes the situation worse.Because there’s no air flow across the engine and through the fan at the front of the car to keep it cool.
I’m sure you’ll have seen a car break down along the road with steam oozing off its hood.
Moreover, an engine that’s too hot causes the moving metal parts of your car to melt and fuse which speeds up wear and tear.
Maintenance Practice: Make sure you check under your hood to ensure your coolant levels are right.
It’s also advisable to flush your radiator to remove debris & sediment build-up then put in new coolant bi-yearly.
And you should use a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water because only water can lead to corrosion. Or better still get premixed coolant to remove the stress of measurements.
You should also inspect the underneath of your car when parked for droplets of coolants on the ground.
If you notice any, then your coolant might be leaking and you need it to fix it.
And don’t forget to check the hoses and belts. The hose carries the coolant to and from the engine block while the belt propels the cooling fan.
Broken Air Conditioning
The cool breeze from your air conditioner makes life more enjoyable during summer.
But one of the common problems you can face during summer is A/C failure. Because if you don’t maintain your A/C during the year, it may not be able to do the cooling job excellently during the hot summer.
And the heat wave in a car with a failing A/C is almost double.
Issues like condensers or evaporator coils clogged with debris will cause your A/C to only expel hot air and leave your cabin fusty.
Also lack of or low refrigerant levels which could be because of leaks will impact the performance of your A/C.
And one of the major ways to tell if there might be an issue with your A/C is if it can’t create an indoor temperature 10°C below the outside ambient air temperature.
Maintenance Practice: Get your air conditioning system checked and serviced by a professional mechanic.They’ll help you detect any issue you might need to fix.
Tire Blowouts
The summer season is “blowout time” for tires.
The varying temperature between day and night affects your tires if not well-maintained.
The air expands during hot afternoons and contracts at night impacting tire pressure coupled with the rolling of the tire on heated asphalt road in the hot afternoon.
A tire blowout can cause you to lose control of your car leading to an accident.
Maintenance Practice: Conduct regular pressure checks on your tire to fish out issues.
And keep recommended pressure for all the tires to boost fuel efficiency, and optimal functionality.
Don’t forget to check tires for wearing out signs, bubbles and shredding so you can make necessary replacement.
You can even insert a penny in the treads upside down with Lincoln’s head facing you to confirm your tire depth.
If you can see the entire head, you need to replace that tire.
Battery Issues
Cold weather is the common culprit linked to dead batteries while summer is exonerated.
But that assumption isn’t entirely right.While winter can affect your battery, summer also can.
Your battery works harder under soaring temperatures and the heat can damage internal parts of your battery thereby weakening the charge.
The heat can even cause the evaporation of internal battery fluid especially in wet cells.
Moreover, hot weather can hinder or speed up the chemical processes inside a car battery leading to undercharging or overcharging.
Features like A/C, convertible, electric powered windows compounds this issue.
Maintenance Practice: Ensure you park under the shade whenever possible.
And carry out battery inspection to ensure the plastic insulator isn’t damaged and there’s no corrosion.
Also regularly detach cables and clean dirt off the terminals. Because accumulated dirt can act as a conductor thereby graining your battery.
And if you suspect your battery is overcharging or undercharging, have it checked out by an expert.
Make sure you strap down your battery tightly to minimize vibrations.
Engine Oil
Your engine oil is like blood to your car.
The heat causes the oil in your car to thin which can impact the efficiency of protection against friction and engine damage.
And most people do heavy driving during summer, meaning you might need to change the oil and the oil filter earlier than your usual routine.
If you pull out your dipstick and find the oil dark and/or with grime on it…it’s time to change your oil.
Maintenance Practice: It’s a good idea to change your oil before summer and you can even opt for a summer-friendly alternative.
With the insight you’ve gained on the common vehicle issues during, and simple maintenance practices to avoid them-you’re assured of a smooth running vehicle throughout this summer.
Written on 29th July 2022