Summertime brings sunshine perfect for road trips and outdoor adventures. But it also delivers hotter operating temperatures taxing your vehicle’s systems in ways cooler months do not. Engine cooling inadequacies, low fluid levels, failing batteries and other heat exacerbated weaknesses choose the worst times to leave you stranded when reliability means everything. Avoid summer breakdowns by performing preventative maintenance before you head out.
Monitor Engine Operating Temperatures
Sizzling summer heat pushes engine operating temperatures higher than their cooling systems were designed to efficiently handle. Like an athlete exercising in extreme heat, engines struggle to shed excess heat quickly enough, which lead to overheating issues. Watch your vehicle’s temperature gauge closely during summer drives for readings nearing the red zone. Turn your heater on full blast during stops to pull excess heat from the cooling system when possible. Overheating left unchecked risks cracked engine heads, blown head gaskets and seized motors stopping your journey brutally short.
Check Coolant Levels Frequently
With increased engine heat comes accelerated coolant evaporation, shrinking available reserves faster than other seasons. Coolant not only prevents overheating by absorbing and shedding heat but also keeps critical passages from corroding internally. Check overflow tanks monthly when warm verifying levels remain within operating ranges. If continually low, scan closely for external leaks with the engine running while warm. Remember to add only the specified coolant type for your vehicle’s make and model to avoid chemically incompatible mixing issues.
Clean Radiators and AC Condensers
Just like plaque accumulating in human arteries causes health issues, debris buildup insulating vehicle radiators and AC condensers robs their cooling efficiency dramatically. Use a garden hose once a month to blast away sticky grime preventing airflow through these vital heat exchangers. For the condenser, aim water carefully straight through the gridded fins without damaging their delicate edges. Radiators accumulate oily gunk internally over years as well, eventually requiring a flush service for renewed cooling capabilities handling summer demands.
Check Hoses and Belts for Cracks
Rubber components like radiator hoses and serpentine belts endure more intense summer flexing and heat cycles, accelerating cracking issues. Small surface cracks penetrate deeper over time until eventually causing dangerous rupture failures. Inspect all rubber belts and hoses closely each month or two for early cracking indications and proactively swap any components nearing failure thresholds. Noticing items needing replacement well ahead of breakdowns provides plenty of lead time to source parts without turning minor issues into tow truck dilemmas. An ounce of prevention avoids tons of steamy frustration awaiting stranded road trippers.
Test Your Battery
Increased under-hood temperatures crank up the stress level on your vehicle’s battery, shortening its operational life dramatically. Heat kills batteries faster than cold does by accelerating internal charge evaporation and corrosion of plates. The experts at Clore Automotive recommend using battery tester equipment once monthly in summer to measure charge capacity remaining rather than getting caught off guard by a no-start situation miles from help. Battery testers clip directly to terminal posts, showing voltage readings and temperature impacts on expected cranking performance. Advanced models even conduct electrical load testing confirming adequate power reserves still exist for reliably starting your engine on the hottest summer days.
Conclusion
Extreme summer heat punishes engines and components in ways cooler months do not, setting the stage for unexpected breakdown disasters if unprepared. But paying attention to a few easily testable mechanical items, and proactively servicing wear parts before they fail, transforms potential liabilities into reliable assets month after month. Arm yourself with the preventative knowledge and equipment, ensuring you steer around surprises lurking right under the hood this summer.