3 Sizzling Car Care Tips for Hot Weather Driving – Lithia Springs, GA

Published on: July 14th, 2016

Now that the summer driving season is in heating up Thornton Road Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is here with 3 sizzling car care tips for hot weather driving. Properly maintaining your vehicle and a little thinking ahead can save you from a real hot flash of anger down the road.

Stay Cool

Staying cool and comfortable behind the wheel when it’s scorching outside can quickly become a matter of life and death. Make sure the A/C blows cold air and is working properly. Nothing makes hot weather seem worse as a weak air conditioner. If the A/C is not blowing cold air, the refrigerant charge may be low. The system should be checked for leaks before adding refrigerant.

Don’t Get Stranded

Most car batteries only last 4 or 5 years. If your battery is 5 or more years old, it will probably need to be replaced soon. Hot weather is actually harder on batteries than cold weather because it increases the rate of evaporation of the liquid electroyte inside the battery (this is not a problem with gel type batteries). The date can be determined by reading the date code on the battery. The date code number indicates the year, and the date code letter corresponds to the month (A = January, B = February, C = March, etc.) It is also important to make sure the coolant reservoir is filled to the proper level. NEVER open a radiator cap on a hot radiator to check the coolant level! Hot steam and boiling coolant may spray out a burn you! Wait until the engine has cooled to check the level inside the radiator (this should not even be necessary if the coolant level in the reservoir is maintained).

Body Work

Rubber wiper blades have a limited life of a year or less. Sun exposure, extreme heat and cold all age the rubber and cause it to become hard and brittle. If the wipers streak, chatter or smear, it is time to replace them. Check the tire for wear, uneven wear, age cracks or damage. Check the inflation pressure in all the tiers, including the spare. Underinflated tires make the tires run hot and increases the risk of a blowout. The body should be waxed or sprayed with some type of protectant to help shield the paint from the ultraviolet rays from the sun, and summer smog in urban areas.

With a properly maintained vehicle and a little planning ahead you can stay safe and cool on the road this summer. And we can help, to schedule a service appointment please contact our service department at (855) 682-3157.