Most Important Vehicle Maintenance Tips for the Summer

Now that the summer season is upon us, proper vehicle maintenance is of the utmost importance. The warmer weather is putting vehicles in a more vulnerable position, which means that without being properly taken care of, a Honda HRV in Los Angeles could very easily breakdown in the middle of a drive. To help account for this, it is crucial that drivers are following these important summer vehicle maintenance tips.

Get the Engine Coolant System Inspected Frequently

Although it is completely possible that a vehicle might suffer from an overheated engine in the middle of the winter, it is much more likely that it will occur during the summer when the temperatures are at their highest for the entire year. In order to account for this, the driver will need to pay extra close attention to their vehicle’s engine coolant system.

 

The most obvious way to do this is to make sure that the coolant level ever becomes too low. This liquid is essential for effectively diverting the heat away from the engine components and keeping them at a temperature that doesn’t negatively affect them. Therefore, if the coolant suddenly reaches the point where there is not enough of it left, then the engine will no longer be able to cool down as fast as it heats up. So eventually, the engine components will become so hot that they are no longer able to operate properly and the engine will likely seize up entirely. But making sure that the coolant level is filled up to the proper amount is not the only kind of maintenance that goes into this process.

 

The driver should also try and get their vehicle’s coolant system fully flushed out on an as-needed basis. When someone has a new Honda Civic lease in Los Angeles, this is not likely something that they will have to deal with. This is because a coolant flush is something that usually only needs to be done about once every four or five years.

 

But for someone who owns their vehicle, they should make sure that they aren’t coming close to the time when they should be getting this process done. If they are, then it is generally a good idea to get this done before getting too far into the summer season. This will help to ensure that they don’t run into an issue during the part of the year where the temperature is at its highest.

 

Even if the driver knows that their vehicle is nowhere near the point where it should be due for a coolant flush, it is still a good idea to have the system examined. This is especially important if the vehicle is equipped with a rubber cooling system.

 

Unlike other systems, this type of coolant component is much more susceptible to damage from extreme heat. Therefore, the summer season has a higher chance of causing significant damage to the various hoses and drive belts within the coolant system. That is why they should be periodically checked for any sort of cracks or other forms of damage.

Keep the Tires at the Proper Inflation Level

The coolant system is not the only part of the vehicle that should be closely monitored during the summer season. It is also a good idea to make sure that the vehicle’s tires are in good condition during this part of the year. While having sufficient tread and being properly aligned are definitely important, the inflation level is arguably even more important.

 

As soon as their tires become underinflated, they are much more likely to be impacted by the level of heat generated by driving on already extremely warm roads. This overheating will eventually lead to a blowout occurring, which is something that can be potentially devastating if it happens when the vehicle is driving at higher speeds. But having tires that are overinflated is also a danger to the vehicle.

 

Therefore, the driver needs to make sure that they have the pressure level perfectly matching the recommended number. Finding what this manufacturer’s recommendation is should be relatively easy since this psi number is printed on the side of each tire. Plus, it should also be located somewhere within the owner’s manual for the vehicle.

 

So if someone makes sure to keep a tire pressure gauge in their vehicle at all times, then they can pull it out and check the pressure on any of their tires whenever they want to. If the numbers on any of the tires don’t match up, then they should take the vehicle to a gas station or dealer in order to get it inflated to the proper level as soon as possible.

 

Luckily, many modern vehicles are now equipped with on-board systems that will give the driver a digital readout of each tire’s pressure level. Therefore, they can check if any of them are low and exactly how low they might be, even during the middle of a drive.

Keep All Fluids Topped Up

The engine coolant is not the only fluid within the vehicle that is important to monitor during the summer season. Making sure that all of the fluids are regularly checked is something that is of the utmost importance in the summer months.

 

This is because things like the oil, brake fluid, and transmission fluid are things that are also used to keep the vehicle’s components at a reasonable temperature. When they become too low, the vehicle loses its ability to regulate its temperature and becomes much more likely to suffer from overheating.

 

But other fluids that don’t have anything to do with keeping the vehicle, such as the windshield washer fluid, are also extremely important during this time of year. Without sufficient amounts of windshield washer fluid, the driver will be unable to properly clean their windshield. This is incredibly dangerous during a time of the year when dirt, dust, mud, and bugs are much more likely to cover the windshield and reduce the driver’s visibility. That is why they should be regularly filled up during the summer months.

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