Get your car summer ready
A SIMPLE TO-DO LIST TO HELP YOU AVOID GETTING STUCK AT THE SIDE ON THE ROAD Battery, oil, fluids and tyres should be checked on a regular basis.
Summer is nearly here and with it comes braais, bronzed bodies and blazing heat. This means more road trips – whether to your favourite picnic spot, the winelands or those lazy summer getaways.
It also means you need to make sure your car is up for the challenges that it faces.
So, what should you do to get your car summer-ready?
Start by shedding the extra weight we all tend to pick up during the long, cold winter, advises Wesley Procter, general manager at car retailer getWorth. By weight, he is referring to clutter.
“Get rid of anything that doesn’t need to be in your car, especially old receipts, take away packets, empty coffee cups, and anything that may have fallen down the cracks between your seats,” he says.
But there are more important things that need attention to ensure your car is ready for the summer heat. Procter shares these four tips that will enable you to take full advantage of those summer trips you intend to take. Check the date on your battery and if it is more than three years old, get it tested.
The heat can be as damaging to a battery as extremely cold temperatures can be. Most new cars will not be affected here, but if you are driving an older car with significant mileage on the clock, you might want to check whether your car will require a heavier/thicker oil due to higher temperatures requiring a higher oil weight/viscosity. Many of the fluids in a car prevent overheating. Ask a mechanic to test your radiator’s antifreeze to check if it needs replacing.
Ask for the hoses to be checked for any leaks.
The coolant levels you can check yourself – just look at the level of the see-through overflow bottle. While you’re there, top up your window washer liquid – and don’t forget to check that your wiper blades aren’t worn. The heat can be as damaging to tyres as the cold can. Check for any wear and tear, snags or nails and ensure your tyre tread complies to legal minimum tread depth.
Driving tyres that are underinflated increases the chance of a blowout, especially when temperatures are high. You should check your tyre pressure at least once a month and remember to check them when they are cold. Procter points out that there are a few things you shouldn’t keep in your car during summer.
“These can include certain medicines which lose their efficacy if exposed to heat,” he says.
He adds that if you’re a cyclist or have a pram with pneumatic tyres, be careful of leaving them in a hot car as high heat can cause the air inside the tyre to expand which can result in a potential blowout.
High heat can also cause the rubber to weaken, causing a flat tyre.