With summer on the horizon, an increase in temperature can be hard on your car. The heat expands the air in the tyres, making your cooler system work even harder.
The harsh sun rays can accelerate wear and tear but with extra care and health checks, you can minimise the risks.
Read on to see our top five tips for making sure your car is summer ready.
Air con
We advise that you should book your car in to have its air con serviced. During the service, we will replenish liquids that your car uses and ensure that everything is in a safe and working order.
The reason why we suggest having your air con serviced regularly is that your system will leak 10% of the air conditioning gases in the system, which will compromise how effectively it will work. A service will rectify any fault in the system and deplete any stores of gasses and lubricants as well as giving the system a good clean to eliminate any odours.
Oil
Oil to a car is what blood is to the body, it keeps the cars components working efficiently and reduces the build up of carbon from collecting in the engine.
The engine gets very hot when switched on and the job of the oil is to pull the heat away from the combustion chamber which will prevent the engine from blowing up. As the oil collects heat, it protects the engine and keeps it running smoothly. However, over time the engine becomes less like liquid and more like sludge and this is when you should change your oil.
How often and what kind of oil should be used will depend on the type of oil you choose to use, what kind of car, and how often you drive. This is where your owner’s manual will come in handy, where it will most likely suggest every three months or 3,000 miles.
If you don’t think you have the time or money to get your oil changed and you choose to wait, eventually the oil will get worse and will become more like sludge and clog your engine. Engines are expensive to clean and replacing a worn-out piston is fairly expensive to repair. For the sake of an oil change, it is worth spending money on an oil change to keep your car running for longer.
Windscreen wash
Windscreen wash is a fluid for vehicles that is used to clean the windscreen with the windscreen wiper while the vehicle is being driven.
Water alone will not cut through road traffic film of grease and grime created by dirt, oil and fuel on the road surface. Wash fluid provides a clear view of the road and is considered essential for safe driving.
The solution comes in many forms and some are applied neat into the windscreen water reservoir and others require mixing with water.
Many people do not realise that if you drive without windscreen wash, you are driving illegally and may be fined if stopped by the police.
Tyres
Summer tyres are specifically designed to deliver optimal performance in fair weather conditions.
Their compounds and design enable good grip and handling on both dry and wet roads in warmer conditions, whilst guaranteeing the maximum safety performance when temperatures are above 7°C.
Whilst they are not essential, they do provide higher levels of longevity and fuel efficiency, helping you to keep your vehicle running costs down and saving you in fuel costs.
MOT Due date
An MOT (Ministry of Transport Test) is basically an annual check up for your car. This test checks important parts of your vehicle to make sure they reach legal standards.
The reason why you should have an MOT is very simple, if your car is three or more years old, it is a legal requirement to have an in-date MOT certificate for your vehicle. Not only is it against the law to drive a car without an MOT but your insurance will also become invalidated.
It has recently been announced that drivers who have an MOT due from Monday 30th March onwards will be granted a six-month extension because of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, if you are concerned that something may be wrong with your car, it is essential to get this checked out as soon as possible.
If you would like us to give your car a service to ensure it is ready for the summer, please feel free to contact us on 01604 589179 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday or 8am and 4pm on Saturday to book an appointment.
