Summer Vehicle Maintenance Checklist

Nov 18, 2020

Close up of a blue car driving on a road with a sunset in the background

Tips for Getting Your Car Ready for Summer

Summer is right around the corner. While you may be ready tornenjoy the weather, your car might not be. Whether you are due for regular vehiclernmaintenance or you need to check some parts that aren’t as common, here’s ourrnsummer vehicle maintenance checklist so you know your car is ready for summer.

[ Tipsrnfor Improving your Fuel Economy ]

Get an Oil Change

Oil changes should already be getting done frequently, butrnthey are even more important during the hot summer months. Why is this? Intensernheat can make your oil thinner and break down sooner. Thin, broken down oilrndoesn’t lubricate the engine as well as it should and can lead tornmetal-on-metal contact, which will eventually lead to damage.

Car driving on a road in the summer with a person's hand out of the window

Flush and Fill the Coolant

One of the most common reasons for engine breakdowns duringrnthe summer is due to overheating engines. To help prevent this, your vehiclernneeds to have enough coolant to cool itself off. If your coolant levels arernlow, fill it up. If you haven’t had a coolant flush in over a year, get itrnflushed first before filling. Like oil, coolant can break down over time andrnwon’t be as effective if too old.

Test your A/C Unit

The last thing you want is to be driving during one of thernhottest days of the summer and not have a functioning A/C unit. Check to see ifrnyour A/C is blowing cold air or not. If it isn’t as cold as you’d expect, takernit in to a mechanic and have them inspect it.

Check Hoses and Belts

The next time you visit a mechanic, have them check yourrnhoses and belts. Heat can make issues such as cracks and leaks worse. If notrnaddressed quickly enough, your car may break down. Of course, it’s ideal tornhave your hoses and belts checked before summer arrives.

Check your Tire Tread and Pressure

Over time, the tread on your tires will decrease with use. Beforernyou take that big summer road trip, makernsure you have plenty of tread with the quarter test. Also, check your tirernpressure so that it meets the proper pressure indicated in your owner’s manual.rnTires can gain or lose 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit, decreasing in therncold and increasing in the heat.

[ Get More Vehicle Maintenance Tips at thernOKCarz Blog ]