Wednesday, 14 July, 2021
Most everybody looks forward to summer with great anticipation for summer vacations, road trips, beach days, and more. We prepare for the warm weather by working on our beach bodies. We buy summer outfits designed to beat the heat, and we load up on sunscreen to keep the sunburn away. But what have we done for our car? Summer can be tough on people, but your vehicle endures more torture in the summer months, too, and with very little respite.
Rather than letting a summer breakdown ruin your trip to the amusement park, you can take steps to prepare your vehicle for the season. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of common summer-related car issues, how to spot them, and what you need to do to avoid or fix them.
Flat Tires
Your tires play a huge role in your driving safety. Tire tread should be adequate to maintain traction, and the air pressure within your tires must be within the manufacturer’s recommended range. In the summer, temperatures fluctuate between extreme heat during the day and as much as a 30-degree drop overnight. These fluctuations often wreak havoc with your tires’ air pressure. Add in the fact that your tires will lose 1-2 psi every month naturally, and you could experience lower-than-normal tire pressure during the summer.
Low tire pressure increases the amount of tread in contact with the road. While this additional contact might give you better traction in wet weather, the steering can become soft enough to cause problems — especially during an emergency. Low tire pressure increases your chances of a blowout if you hit a pothole or curb, too.
Over-inflated tires can present issues as well. If there’s any weakness in the tread or sidewall, over-inflation puts added stress on these areas. Potholes, curbs, and other uneven road conditions can cause a blowout with over-inflated tires.
We recommend checking your tire pressure once a week to ensure proper inflation. Many modern vehicles have built-in tire pressure monitoring systems. If you have one in your car, pay attention to it and add air whenever necessary. You should also inspect your tires regularly, especially before a road trip. Look for uneven tread wear or raised portions of your tire. Bubbles that appear on your tires indicate a weak spot.
Should you see anything unusual with your tires or need help adding air, our service center technicians can help you. You can drop by any time or schedule a service online.
Engine Overheating
Regular oil changes help prevent your engine from overheating, but your engine needs more than an oil change. The summer heat can put added stress on your engine’s cooling system. While the internal temperature of your car’s engine operates at much higher temperatures than the actual air around us, the added heat still puts a strain on your cooling system. Your engine coolant runs through the engine block to cool down the components during operation. The coolant then goes through your car’s radiator, which re-cools the liquid before returning it through the engine, and the cycle continues.
Old engine coolant breaks down over time and often picks up debris from the system, further weakening its cooling properties. The older the engine coolant, the less ability it has to cool the engine. If you haven’t changed your engine coolant in a while, doing so before the peak of summer can protect your engine from overheating. Most cars should have their engine coolant changed at least every five years. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s specific requirements.
Our service department technicians can flush your radiator and replace your engine coolant in minutes, getting you back on the road and off to your next summer adventure.
Air Conditioning
Your car’s air conditioner works harder in the summer than at any other time, tirelessly cooling the air inside your vehicle. No one wants the A/C to start blowing warm air, so take the time to get your A/C checked out before the summer heat arrives. Your car’s air conditioner uses chemical gases to cool the air, and that system can run low. We recommend having your vehicle’s air conditioner serviced once a year before summer arrives.
Many car owners believe they can do this themselves, and some can — but not without special tools and equipment. The government has strict regulations on handling and disposing of the chemicals used in your air conditioning unit. Therefore, it would be best if you had a professional handle service on your air conditioning system.
At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we will inspect your air conditioning system for leaks and make sure you have plenty of coolant to help your summer adventures go smoothly. We can also properly handle and dispose of any extra coolant to help preserve and protect the environment.
Battery Service
Your car’s battery does so much more than provide the power to start your vehicle. It helps run other systems and stores energy for future use. Unfortunately, the summer heat can affect your car’s battery, draining its reserves and weakening it to the point of ineffectiveness. You should test your battery before summer arrives as well as before any road trip. A weak battery can put a strain on your alternator, which costs hundreds of dollars more to replace than the battery alone.
At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we can test your battery and determine whether or not you should replace it before it becomes a problem. Our technicians can quickly determine if you need a new battery, and we have plenty of new batteries in stock to get you back to your busy life quickly.
Everyone should enjoy summer. Taking trips to the beach, booking vacations to the lake house, and visiting far-away relatives make the season one to anticipate and enjoy. Don’t let your car’s performance suffer because you haven’t taken the proper precautions to keep it running smoothly. Bring your vehicle in to Koons Woodbridge Hyundai for a pre-summer service and let us make sure your Hyundai has all it needs to make your summer a special one.
Image via Flickr by Crown Star Images
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