Car Care Tips for the Summer
Summer is almost upon us with Spring giving us a taste of the higher temperatures we can expect during the summer, so while we have a little more time before the full gloriously hot and sunny weather descends upon us here are some hints and tips to get your vehicle in shape for summer too!
Wax On and Wax Off
The sun can really damage your paintwork and a major car care tip is to make sure you apply a coat of wax every six weeks though many people either forget or think they are getting wax applications from a car wash.
Applying a coat of wax does not need to be hard effort with buffing machines available for less than $20 and which will take the misery of wax application and buffing the coat up to a great shine.
Refrigerate!
Manufacturers usually recommend running the air conditioner for 10 to 15 minutes each week in order to maintain the system but in practice many drivers simply turn the system off and then wonder why it is not working several months later when the warm weather comes around.
Check for vapor emissions from the vents when you run the air conditioning as this is a sign of low coolant and a refresh of the system is usually to be had very cheaply and will maximize your comfort while minimizing the cost to you.
Beware of the Heat
Car temperatures can climb to 160 degrees when parked in direct sunlight – enough to bake babies, children, pets and your laptop.
Park in the shade whenever possible and use a windshield cover to reflect the rays of the sun. Keeping the vehicle cool is only part of the equation though as the cooler your car is, not only will you have more comfort but you will reduce the rate of evaporation of the gas from the tank which is a direct cost saving to you.
In this light, make sure you ensure the gas cap is on tight and not just turned until you hear the “click” when you fill up – ensuring a tight seal, air tight if possible, will prevent evaporation through the gas cap generally and this is also a direct saving of your dollars.
Oil and Filter
Oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or every 3 months and in accordance with the manufacturer’s warranty and maintenance manual. Performing a simple oil and filter change will not only noticeably improve your car and engine performance but will also save you around 2% on your gas costs from better gas mileage.
Windscreen Wiper Blade and Screen Wash
There is nothing worse than driving down a hot, dusty road when a bug goes “splat” in the middle of the screen and then you put on the wipers and look for a jet of fluid to clean off the offending bug stain – except all you get is a dried set of streaks because there is no screen wash and the blades have seen their best through the winter.
Make sure you change the blades and top up the screen wash but again, follow the directions for summer driving as the concentrations differ between the seasons – in the summer you don’t need anti-freeze in the wash either so hold on that )this will save on corrosion on your paintwork too).
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