As summer slowly approaches, we are starting to drive less and walk more, some of us even neglect our cars for the summer. Did you know that the sun’s rays can damage your car and windshield? Preventing these damages from happening can save you from expensive repair bills and can also improve safety on the road for the driver and passengers. Luckily, some of the effects of the sun on your car are avoidable and the aim of this post is to provide you with some resolve.
Battery
The first thing to remember is to keep an eye out for your battery, the high summer temperatures can make the fluids evaporate faster than normal which kills the battery. During the summer times, you should always make sure you are checking your battery and the fluid levels topping up when needed.
Parking
You should avoid parking in the sun if you can help it. Not only would the sun make it unbearable when you get it the car, it would also do some damage to the car’s interior like making the leather brittle and cracking the dashboard. If you make sure you’re either parked in the shed or in a garage, your car remains cool and protected.
Distance
When driving, you should try to keep a safe distance from large trucks as they are known to throw up stones and dirt behind them which can cause damage to the glass on your car. To prevent this, all you must do is to drop way back when they approach, especially when driving on at highway speeds. A second advantage is if you give a heavy truck extra space you are reducing the risks of accidents.
Air Filters
During the summer, there’s typically more dust and debris in the air, which can clog the air filters in your car and end up affecting you’re your gas mileage. You should make sure that your air filters are dusted or change regularly to prevent damage to you mass flow sensor and regulate the air levels in your engine.
Tyre Pressure
Before taking any long trips in the summer you should check your tyres to make sure that they are properly inflated. Driving with over or under inflation increases the chances of blowing a tyre and causing expensive damages and injuries. The heat in the summer causes tyres to increase in pressure, to avoid this you should try to park your car in cool areas if you can. To spread the tyre wear evenly among all four tyres you should try to rotate your tyres every 6000 miles. If you do notice puncture in your tyres you can check for Tyres online for a cheap replacement.
These are just some steps to protecting your car from the damage of the sun to the body and interior, there are other preventative steps to take like regular washing the body and glass, waxing and storing in cool places. Remember to give you’re an all-around check before you take off on long trips to avoid disappointment.