Caring for your car in the summer is just as important as it is in the wintertime. Warm temperatures can lead to a host of problems if you do not maintain your car properly and prevent them from occurring. Most of these easy maintenance items you can take care of on your own, but if you do not feel comfortable doing them or just do not think you are able, take your car to a mechanic. No matter if you save the money and perform these maintenance tasks yourself, or take your car to a mechanic and pay them to do it, it can save you large amounts of money than not doing anything at all. The following are some easy tips to keep your car running safe and comfortable for you all summer.
Fluids are as important to a car as they are to a human
Making sure that all the fluids are clean and at the proper levels in your car is probably the most important thing you can do. From oil to windshield washer fluid, they are all important to functionality and safety. Make sure your oil is changed on schedule. If you do not change your oil yourself, ask the technician if they can check your other fluid levels for you, and fill any that are low. If you change your oil yourself, use the opportunity to check the rest of the fluids yourself and top off any that need it. You want to make sure that your windshield washer fluid is full as well, to make sure you have a clean windshield when you need it as well. If any fluids are extremely low and you have done regular maintenance, you may want to take your vehicle to the mechanic to check for any leaks, and get them repaired.
Make sure your cooling system is functional and clean
If you have air conditioning as most people do now, you want to make sure that the system is charged and clean to make sure that you have nice cool, clean air available for those oppressively hot days. If your system does not seem to be cooling the way it should, it may be time for a recharge. If you work on your car yourself, you can go to any auto parts store and buy a kit to recharge your air conditioning system inexpensively. If you do not work on your own car, take it to your mechanic and have the air conditioning system recharged. You also want to replace any cabin air filters you may have. If they are dirty, you are not getting clean fresh air in the cabin of the vehicle like you should, and a dirty filter makes your air conditioner work harder. Changing these filters every season assures you that you are getting clean, contaminant free air, and not wasting precious money on gas if your vehicles systems are not working properly.
Check tire pressure and condition
Make it a habit when you stop for gas, to check your tires to make sure they do not look low and the tread is still in good condition. Low tire pressure not only can waste gas, but also can make your vehicle unsafe on hot pavement if you need to stop or maneuver quickly. If you need to add air to your tires, make sure you read the sidewall of the tire to be sure that you are inflating it to the proper pressure. Worn out tread can cause you to lose control on wet roads if a sudden summer storm pops up, so you want to be sure that you are ready for that. If you find yourself putting air in at least one tire every time you get gas, you may have a leak in your tire. Visit your local tire center or mechanic and they can determine if there is a leak, and take their suggestion on your tires whether to fix it, or if your tires are worn, replace them.
Following these tips can help you to make sure that your car is as safe as comfortable it can be for your summer driving. It can also keep you from having to pay high repair bills in the future because you have not properly maintained your vehicle. Most of these things can be done at home in your own driveway, with just the cost of fluids to worry about. If you take your car to mechanic, it is well worth the money to keep your car safe and running good for a long time.
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