Summer time, time of more exhaustive control of the car. It is a mantra like the song of summer and it does not matter if you are from King Africa, Mocedades or what is heard now in summer that preparing the car for the vacation trip is a must for all ages. In this post we will talk about the components that most accuse the summer heat because remember, the street burns in the setting sun. And the A3 also burns. We already talked about certain aspects to take into account to take care of the car in summer recently, we leave you the link, but today we delve into other technical aspects.
Apart from the pressure on the wheels, going out with a full tank and cleaning them with liquid, in the car we have certain elements that with the heat lose efficiency and if we do not review them we can get a scare. We will mainly talk about elements that may need a more expert hand than those mentioned above.
We are going to see how the heat affects and what recommendations we should take into account for a calm trip and how to prepare for a long trip.
liquids
In general, all of them. With the heat and high temperatures it is easy for most common liquids can evaporate and lose abilities. Before leaving we will have to check brake fluids, coolant and oil. In the case of brake fluids, it is of special importance since with the heat generated by the discs and also produced by the friction of the discs, braking efficiency is progressively lost.
With a correct brake fluid level We won’t have a problem, but at the slightest leak or lack thereof, our braking will be affected. Currently, almost all cars have witnesses that warn us of this wear, but if your car does not have it, you will have to pay attention to its behavior and check the fluid before leaving home.
With the antifreeze fluid the same thing happens to us. This helps us keep the engine at optimal temperature in summer and winter. Remember that antifreeze is irreplaceable and you should not mix it with water, apart from its properties for the engine it also acts as a lubricant, coolant and is also anticorrosive. In this sense, checking the antifreeze level and refilling it is more than enough, if you can do it with the same liquid, the better.
Oil
It is vox populi that a good oil is a saint’s hand in the event of unforeseen events, choosing a brand well and a good compound is key to car maintenance at any time. At the moment we have more polyvante oils endowed with multiviscosity. With a single oil we can throw the whole year. In the past, it was recommended to change the oil in summer and winter… Urban legend or not, checking the level a few days before leaving (cold car and on flat) is usually enough, if we notice any loss or abnormal behavior of the car, a visit to the workshop will be necessary to check the oil and filters.
Battery
If you are going on vacation with your car and do not have much mechanical knowledge, it is important to keep in mind some things about batteries. With rising temperatures, the batteries can wear out more quickly, they can dry out and reduce their useful life. Therefore, it is advisable to pay attention to this component of your vehicle, since its operation could decrease up to 50% with temperatures worthy of a heat wave. When it’s time to replace your car battery, it’s crucial to choose the right one based on how you use your vehicle.
Power needs will not be the same for a car that makes short commutes compared to one that makes frequent long highway trips. Furthermore, the type of vehicle you have is also a key factor to consider. Modern cars with technologies like the start-stop system require higher performance.
In this post about battery maintenance that Luis leaves us, we delve deeper into this aspect.
Air-conditioning
We are not going to forget our best friend on the road. Imagine a trip to Murcia (how beautiful you are) without air. The tale of your grandparents is far from going 7 in a 1430 without air and with the windows down (I don’t know what need there was to suffer). Let’s go with a couple of things to keep in mind before leaving.
Summer is also synonymous with air conditioning recharge campaigns. Although the useful life of a gas is 3 years, it is important to note if it does not cool the passenger compartment or if it comes out with little power. These two signs can lead us to recharge the air. If we notice, for example, a bad smell when turning on, we may also have to change the filters and it is that nobody wants to smell fungus and bacteria, right?
Although it sounds paradoxical, for a more complete maintenance, it is advisable to turn on the air conditioning in winter to prevent ducts from drying out and that bacteria occupy your ducts. Once a month is usually enough.
Finally, in the revisions that we do every 2 years, it is important to mention that they check the compressor, condenser, and air hoses and belts to verify that everything is in order.
