Summer Car Maintenance Tips: Simple Steps to Stay on the Road

Summer is a popular time to travel. Even if you’re not planning a road trip, extreme heat can take a toll on your vehicle. Follow these simple maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly all season.

• Tire pressure - There should be a sticker inside the driver’s side door with the recommended tire pressure or you can find it in your owner’s manual. Use a tire gauge to verify your tires are inflated to the right pressure, keeping in mind that front and rear tires may have a different recommended pressure. Having properly inflated tires will make your tires last longer, provide better handling and braking, and help prevent hydroplaning in wet weather.  

• Tire tread - The tread of your tires helps you maintain traction by displacing water in wet conditions. You can easily check to make sure you have enough tire tread using a penny. Insert it into the tire tread with Lincoln’s head going in first. If his head isn’t visible above the tread, your tires are fine. 

• Spare tire - Don’t forget to check your spare tire. You don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire and an unusable spare. Check your owner’s manual for the proper pressure for the spare. It’s usually different than your regular tires.  

• Brakes - Over time your brake pads or shoes wear down enough that they need to be replaced. Some brake pads have wear indicators on them that emit a high-pitched screeching noise when they’re ready to be replaced. But not all brake pads have them and moisture can also cause a squealing noise, so it’s best to have them checked by a professional roughly every 30,000 miles. 

• Battery - Inspect your car’s battery for corroded terminals. Use a wire brush and a paste of baking soda and water to clean off any corrosion. If your car has been having trouble starting or the battery is between 3-5 years old, you should have your battery tested. Most auto parts stores will test your battery for free. 

• Oil - Driving with low oil levels can damage your engine. To check your oil level, park your vehicle on level ground. Open your hood and locate the oil dipstick, which is usually yellow or orange with an oil can symbol. Pull it out and wipe it off on a clean rag, then put it back in and remove it again. Look at the oil level on the dipstick, and make sure it’s between the two lines toward the bottom. If it’s close to the bottom line or below it, add a quart of oil. Wait a few minutes and then check the level again. Don’t forget to have your oil changed regularly. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended miles between oil changes. 

• Engine fluids - Sitting in traffic on a hot, summer day can lead to your engine overheating if it hasn’t been properly maintained. Check your engine fluids such as coolant, transmission and power steering to make sure they’re at the required levels according to your owner’s manual.  

• Washer fluid - If you live in an area with colder temperatures, it’s likely that you used a lot of windshield washer fluid during winter to remove tire spray from other cars. Top off your fluid to make sure you have enough to effectively clean your windshield.  

• Belts and hoses - Belts and hoses are a vital part of your vehicle’s engine, and exposure to heat and vibrations can cause them to wear out over time. Look for any obvious cracking or fraying and replace them if needed. Check your owner’s manual to see when the belts are due for replacement. 

• Air filter - Having a clean air filter can improve your gas mileage. It’s also one of the easiest things to replace yourself! Use your owner’s manual to help you locate the air filter under your hood. It should be replaced approximately every 12,000 miles, but it may need to be replaced sooner if you’re driving in dusty conditions. Give it a visual inspection to see if it looks dirty. If so, go ahead and replace it.  

• Windshield wipers - Winter may have taken a toll on your wiper blades from ice and cold temperatures. If they’re leaving streaks or not easily wiping away rain, then it’s time to get new ones. Your local auto parts store will help you find the right ones for your make and model, and sometimes they’ll even offer to install them for free.  

• Air conditioner - There’s nothing worse than getting into a hot car only to find out that your A/C is blowing out warm air. Before hot temperatures kick in, turn on your air conditioner to make sure it’s cooling properly. If it’s not, take it to your local shop for repairs. 

• Car wash – If you live in a colder climate and haven’t yet washed off all the road salt and debris from winter, do that ASAP. If you go to a drive-through car wash, make sure you choose the undercarriage wash to remove any salt that has collected there. Salt is great for icy conditions, but it wreaks havoc on the metal of your car. You need to remove it to prevent rust and damage.  

• Emergency kit - Prepare an emergency kit, especially if you’re planning a road trip. Here are some things to include: a road atlas in case you get lost and don’t have cell phone reception, flares or orange hazard triangles, water, reflective blanket, multitool, duct tape, knife, basic first aid kit, sunscreen, flashlight, phone charger, tire gauge, jumper cables and nonperishable snacks. 

Summer is supposed to be relaxing and filled with fun activities. Don’t let a breakdown ruin it. Keeping your car properly maintained will ensure that you can spend your free time doing what you love instead of sitting in the waiting room of a repair shop.