The summer heat can interfere with your vehicle's ability to fully operate. Vehicle fluids can evaporate, circulation is diminished, and your vehicle has to work just a little harder. Check out our tips and tricks to ensure your vehicle is ready for the rising temperatures.
Car Batteries
The summer is notorious for killing car batteries so look out for the following.
Internal Evaporation: Car batteries rely on water and sulfuric acid to fuel its internal processes. These liquids can begin to evaporate in the summer heat and without these fluids, your battery will ultimately fail.
Corrosion: High heat and liquid evaporation will accelerate natural battery corrosion and oxidation.
Sulfation: After recharging your battery, small amounts of lead sulfate remain on the lead plates found in batteries. The heat accelerates sulfation, which leads to battery failure.
Overcharged Batteries: High heat can cause your battery charging system to not function correctly, overcharging your battery. Overcharging can lower the lifetime of your battery.
Solutions
Park your vehicle in a garage when possible.
Park in the shade.
Invest in a car cover to protect from UV rays.
Watch for battery corrosion and check with a mechanic to see if cleaning or replacing your terminal ends will help.
Stay up to date on your radiator maintenance flushes.
Some batteries include a water level indicator to show how much evaporation your battery has faced. Check these levels regularly.
Tires
Changes in temperature can affect tire pressure which can cause uneven wear and shorten the life of your tires. Reduce your chances of blowout with these tips.
Check air pressure before driving. Check the pressure every 75 miles if over-inflation could be an issue.
Thin tires run a higher risk of getting blown out. Install summer tires which are better equipped to handle hot weather.