Be honest with yourself: when was the last time that you performed basic maintenance inspections on your car?
If it's been a while, then you need to reevaluate how to take care of your car. This is especially true as we head into the hot summer months when damage and problems can quickly compound.
What are the most important car maintenance tips for the warmer months?
Keep on reading this post to find out.
We'll also let you know where you can go in order to get the best possible summer car care for your ride.
1. Check Your Fluids
Especially as the temperature climbs, you're going to want to make sure that paying proper attention to your car's fluids is first on your list of summer car care tips.
This means that you need to make sure your AC unit has enough coolant, as well as to ensure that there aren't any leaks.
These coolant leaks can quickly happen in the connection areas between a hose and your engine. To ensure that there aren't any leaks, gently squeeze the hoses to make sure they have enough elasticity and that there's no air escaping.
Now is also the time to make sure that you know to take care of your car fluids in your brakes, windshield wipers, and your oil in general.
After all, not having the proper fluid levels in your cars can quickly cause its parts to wear down or overheating in general.
2. Don't Neglect Your Tires
The fluid levels in your vehicle aren't the only summer car maintenance tips that you need to pay attention to.
Even high-quality tires generally lose a pound of air every month. And if you're driving your car to vacation destinations on hot pavement? You can expect them to lose pressure even faster than normal.
The last thing that you want to do is end up sitting on the side of the road for several hours because you suffered from a tire blowout thanks to under-inflated tires.
After all, you want to stay safe on the road.
Make sure that you take your tire pressure once the car has completely cooled off in order to get the best possible reading.
If you're unsure about the level of tire pressure that you need, we suggest checking the owner's manual of your vehicle.
Another piece of advice when it comes to tire maintenance?
Every time that you check the tires on your car, make sure that you're also taking a look at the spare in your trunk.
3. Switch Out Your Car's Air Filter
Another important aspect of summer car care?
It's time for you to change out the filter in your car.
After all, it can sometimes be tough to get out all the debris, leaves, and yes, even critters and bugs that called your filter home in the winter.
For best results, we suggest replacing the filter completely as opposed to simply cleaning it.
This will help your car to run more efficiently and will ensure that no other parts of it get damaged from the debris.
Depending on the make and model of your car, you'll likely need the professional help of a technician/mechanic to switch out the filter. Taking a DIY approach could lead to costly damage.
4. See if You Need a New Engine Belt
Have you heard a strange and irritating squealing sound coming from your car?
If so, then it might be time to follow one of the most essential car maintenance tips for the summer: replacing the engine belt.
After all, this belt can quickly start to fall apart once it's slipped out of place. In some cases, it's just normal wear and tear that leads to its deterioration.
In any case, it's not something to ignore.
Visually inspect it for cracks and a loss of proper tension.
If it's time to switch it out, rely on a professional to do it the safe and right way.
5. Have an A/C Checkup Completed
The final thing that you need to know in order to understand how to take care of your car in the summer months?
You need to take it in for an A/C checkup before the temperature reaches unbearable heights.
Remember that, even if you think that your car's A/C system is working properly, not all signs of damage are visible to an untrained eye.
Only an expert can spot problems that could potentially become worse quickly. They can replace worn out fans, ensure that your air flow isn't restricted in any way, and check to make sure your engine isn't getting overheated.
Don't wait until you're hundreds of miles away from a service center before you realize there's a problem.
Instead, take a proactive approach and have a professional air conditioning inspection done on your car as soon as is possible.
How to Take Care of Your Car in Summer: Wrapping Up
We hope that this post has helped you to understand some of the most important summer car care tips that you need to take into consideration at the start of the season.
Acting now won't just extend the overall life of your vehicle. It can also save you some serious time and money in the long run.
Of course, to know how to take care of your car, you first need to leave it in the best possible hands.
That's where we come in.
At AAMCO of Overland Park, we provide superior maintenance and repair services at a great price.
Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment for your vehicle.
