While you are excited with the summer sun and the long drives, your car might be dreading it. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. That’s why we have created this list of summer car care tips for car owners both old and new. These tips might not be applicable for all types of cars, but you might pick a thing or two. Read on to learn our top five summertime car maintenance tips.
Summer Car Care Tips
1. Have your AC checked
Hot weather means more stress on your car’s AC system. So this should be an essential part of your summer car care routine. Make sure everything is working as intended so you won’t have surprise breakdowns while on the road on a hot day.
You might also want to see if the freon levels in your car AC system is still in acceptable levels if you want to survive the summer’s scorching heat you need to have your freon topped off. If everything is working fine, have your mechanics do a thorough cleaning of your AC. This will remove any dust buildup that might cause the AC to not blow as much as it is supposed to.
2. Mind the engine temperature
Summer days can get pretty hot and this makes the engine temp go even higher. An overheating engine is one sure way to take the fun out of your summer plans. In order to help your engine cool off, you might want to choose the best kind of coolant for your car’s radiator.
Coolant is a specialized liquid that excels in absorbing the heat generated from your engine (with the help of the car’s engine cooling system) and dissipating it. Make sure you check the coolant levels on your car’s radiator at least once a week to make sure it is topped off.
3. Have an oil change
Sure, you’ve had your oil change a few months ago and it’s not really time to do an oil change but you should still do it if you love your car. This is especially true when you are planning on a number of road trips during the summertime.
Not only will an oil change ensure your car is in tip-top shape, but this also allows you to change the oil in your engine to be more suited for the hot weather. After all, the type of oil you put in your car can help cool it down when needed. If you are not sure about this, you can check your car’s manual to see a special summer schedule for maintenance.
4. Check your fluids
As in any pre-road trip maintenance, you should go and make sure your car’s fluids (brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluids, and coolant as mentioned above) are topped off. Seasoned drivers know that missing this simple check can spell disaster especially when you are going on a longer than usual road trip. Also, check your trunk to make sure you bring extra in case you need to top off along the way.
5. Make sure your tires are still up for the job
The last thing you need for a road trip is having your tire blown because you forgot to check it. Summertime is the time for the triple check – tread, air, and spare. First, make sure the treads on your car tires are still healthy. Next, make sure it has enough air before you drive off.
Lastly, check your spare to make sure the treads are still acceptable and it has enough air. Your spare should be usable when you need it (which is usually an emergency), so better to check it before you stash it.
Bring Your Car to T3 Atlanta for Your Summer Car Care
If you plan on a number of road trips for the summer, it might be a good idea to go and have T3 Atlanta check your car first. Our mechanics can do a comprehensive maintenance check on your car to make sure you won’t have to worry about your car all summer. Call us today and let’s pencil your car in for a thorough check.
A lot of groups have had the chance to test the mileage of various vehicles while running the AC and having the windows down. One of them, called the Society of Automotive Engineers, finally sought after the answer to the question in a scientific way.
Normally, you’d want to have your AC serviced at least once a year. Think of it as a yearly checkup where the technicians ensure your AC is clean from dust, pollen, and gunk while making sure it is working as intended. If need be, expert AC technicians will check and clean every component of the AC system on your car.
Make sure your pet is used to traveling with you in your car. Traveling is a new experience for pets so you should make sure you take them to short trips so they get used to the feeling of being in a closed space for a certain time.
If you are planning on a trip with your pet, take your car to T3 Atlanta to make sure your car is in tip-top shape. We can also install safety items in your cars that are specific to pets like restraints, seats, and carriers. You can also visit our shop after your trip to make sure nothing untoward has happened to your vehicle. Visit us today!
When you are young and financially challenged, you tend to develop this habit of stretching everything to the limit. Like following a measly budget and hope you won’t die of starvation. Or wearing the same set of clothes until somebody notices. But perhaps one that we can really relate to is running your car on empty.
For those unfamiliar with the term, running on empty means you are running your car even if the fuel gauge is at “E” or empty and the gas tank warning light is on.
While you may feel like MacGyver going all smart and risky in running on empty, it can do serious damage to your car.
Winter is coming. Are you and your car ready?
Check your tires – We put this first because this is probably the easiest. Regular tires won’t work on icy roads so you should start switching them with your winter set. But before you do that, check your winter tires if they still have the proper tread depth. No point using them when they can’t even perform properly. Lastly, make sure to constantly check your tire pressure. The cold can cause the pressure to drop at times so check your tires visually before you get on the car and watch out for the tire pressure light.
So you already know where you plan to go and you have all the information you need, but that’s not enough for you to get on the road. You still need a couple of things to make the road trip a success.
Depending on where you plan to go on your fall road trip, the weather can get a bit crazy. You might be enjoying a sunny afternoon drive but it can get a bit wet and cold after an hour. Make sure you bring clothes that can protect you in case it gets too cold or too hot.
Music is a must-have on any road trip. Instead of packing a binder of CD’s, download Spotify. This app offers millions of songs and podcasts to keep you and your road trip companions entertained whether your trip is three-hundred or three-thousand miles long.
Are you a spontaneous traveler? The REI Co-Op National Parks Guide might be your new best friend. This free app contains maps and sightseeing information about many of the country’s National Parks with new park information updated regularly.
Audubon’s Bird Guide app is the perfect, palm-sized field guide for anyone who wants to try bird watching on their next road trip. The app makes it easy to explore what kind of birds are nearby so that you know what to look out for.
TripIt is the ideal travel companion for hardcore planners. This app creates an all-in-one itinerary for you to make your trip as smooth as possible. All you need to do is forward your travel information – that includes hotels, travel, and even restaurants – to their dedicated submission line, and TripIt does the rest.
Unless you own an electric car, GasBuddy is a road trip essential. With this app, all you need to do is enter in your location and it does the rest, finding the closest gas stations to where you are as well as prices. That way, you don’t have to be uncertain about where the next gas station is or be surprised by prices.
Located in Northern Georgia, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is a must-see destination for sightseers, bird watchers, hikers, and fall foliage photographers alike.
No fall foliage list is complete without mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic road starts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and winds 469 miles all the way to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Heavy traffic in the morning can spell significant delays and plenty of people in a rush to get to school or work. Book extra time to get where you’re going so that you won’t need to worry about being late for the bell if you encounter heavy traffic.
Emails, texts, calls, choosing the best song for your morning ride, and even reacting to street directions all demand a part of your attention. However, the most important thing you need to focus on is the road.
Keep your gas tank at least half full. Even though it might mean an extra trip to the gas station, you will never have to worry about running out of gas when you’re stuck in traffic on the freeway.
Depending on where you live in Atlanta, your neighborhood may have a lot of cyclists and pedestrians on the road. Be sure to share the road when you’re behind the wheel.
This tip ultimately comes down to a personal preference. Slip-ons and sandals are ideal for long drives, but some people live in their sneakers. Whatever your footwear of choice might be, you’ll ideally want to avoid shoes that constrict or cut into your skin to help make your drive as comfortable as possible.
By keeping snacks and other trip essentials within reach, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle when, two hours into your trip, you realize that you need a charging cable for your phone or GPS.
Stopping and stretching helps keep you alert, which is important when it comes to late-night or even overnight drives. When you push yourself past your limits on a marathon drive, your reaction time and alertness decrease, which can be a dangerous combination for yourself and other drivers on the road. Stay safe and rest when you need to; that’s what rest stops are for.
