Summer is a fantastic time to get out on the road and have some fun. There are many sites to visit, whether you're traveling to another state or simply looking for a local campsite. In any case, the extreme heat of the summer months must be taken into consideration. Here are some things to remember before the weather gets too hot so you can drive with confidence.
- Replace your oil and oil filter. This is especially crucial if you haven't changed your oil in a while, because extreme weather (wet, hot, or cold) can put extra strain on your oil and oil filter. Your oil keeps your engine parts lubricated, while the filter keeps hazardous debris, dirt, and metal fragments out of the oil system. More material is picked up when the filter is clean. The more stuff that is taken up, the cleaner the oil will be. A healthier, happier engine means cleaner oil!
- Check your tires. According to michelinman.com, the penny test is a quick and straightforward way to check for wear. Simply take an Abraham Lincoln coin and follow three simple steps:
- Using your thumb and fingers, hold Abe's body between your thumb and forefinger on a penny.
- Place the coin with Abe's head into one of the tire grooves where the tread looks to be the thinnest.
- You're driving with the legal and safe amount of tread if any part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread. Your car's ability to grip the road in bad weather is substantially decreased if your tread goes below that (about 2/32 of an inch).
- Make sure the air conditioner is working. If the air conditioner cools but not to the desired level, the issue could simply be a lack of pressure. This would only necessitate the refrigerant being refilled. Overfilling the refrigerant, on the other hand, may have the unintended consequence of lowering the operation of your car's air conditioning system and possibly blowing the compressor. Bad switches, blown fuses, a shortage of compressor oil, a damaged belt, noisy compressor bearings, and a faulty clutch plate are some additional issues that could be affecting the performance of your car's air conditioning system. Check to see if everything is in order. If you discover any problems, it's a good idea to have them rectified by professionals.
- Check all exterior lights. Checking your car's lights will just take a couple of minutes of your effort, but it could save your life or the life of someone else! The following should be checked by getting inside the vehicle, and using the relevant lights, alongside someone confirming the working condition of each of the lights from the outside the vehicle:
- Check the sidelights.
- Check the headlights, both the dipped and the main beam.
- Check your fog lights.
- Check your indicators.
- Check your hazard warning lights.
- Check your brake lights.
Bring your vehicle to our shop!
If you need assistance getting your vehicle ready for the summer months ahead, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Central Park Garage today!