Not only you but your car also feels the heat. These are the must dos to protect your car in summer.

With temperature rising across the country, it’s really very hard to step out especially in peak heat hours in the day. We take various precautionary measures to protect ourselves in the scorching weather outside but it’s not only us who face such excessive heat but our partner which protects us from heat & sun is our car. Cars too face a lot of wear and tear due to the excessive heat and if not taken care of on time, it only adds new problems to the car’s maintenance. So, if you don’t want to be left stranded with a over-heated box of metal in during your way to your destination & you want a new and flawless look of your car, it is suggested for you to follow these essential tips to help your car beat the heat this summer.

Protect the Paint – Your car’s exterior is the most exposed part of the vehicle to the harsh rays of the sun and can have the most damaging affect as well. It’s recommended that you avoid parking your vehicle completely exposed in the sun for long. It not only ends up damaging your paint, but also takes a toll on the tyres while increasing the cabin temperature as well. Parking under tree or any kind of shade is the best option to park. If there is no shade and you have no option to park except in sun, keep changing the sides of the vehicle. In order to protect your exteriors, also make sure to keep it polished with wax periodically. Waxing every six months will keep the harsh UV rays as well as dust and grime away from the car. If your car is new, it is best advised to get the Teflon coating done for longer protection.

Keep the Interior Clean – Your car’s interior also take a toll in the summers. Prolonged parking in the sun will create a stench inside the cabin, more so, if you have leather upholstery. Make sure you get the interior cleaned thoroughly in the summers and that also includes floor mats, dashboard and AC vents. It also tends to get extremely dusty during summers in India, so it is best advised to keep your windows powered up during the season.

Service the AC – The HVAC unit on your car will be taking most load during the summers. With temperatures as high as 45-degrees in most parts of the country, sometimes running the AC on full seems worthless. However, this could also mean that your AC needs to be serviced to take on the additional load. Make sure to top up the refrigerant, if needed. The older the car, the more care it needs.

Top up fluids including engine and transmission oil, coolant, as needed – It is best advised to thoroughly service your car ahead of the summers. This includes checking all the fluid levels and topping up where necessary including the transmission, differential and brake oil. Change the air filter during the service or get it completely cleaned. Time the service in such a way that the car gets new engine oil for the summer, while it is best advised to add new coolant for effective working of the engine. Also, make sure to clean your radiator and get all the dust, grime and insects out, so it can effectively channel cool air. Always remember, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.

Check the treads and replace tyres if it shows signs of balding – Your tyres take a beating from the moment your rolled out of the dealership and the summers only adds to the wear and tear. Most people often tend to be overlook the condition of tyres. An under-inflated tyre tends to protrude and put unnecessary pressure on the sidewalls that can cause the tyre to eventually blow. On the other hand, over-inflated tyres lead to lack of grip. Make sure to keep a tab on the life of the tyre. As a thumb rule, it is advisable to change your tyres after five years or 50,000 km. Tyres have lost most of its life by then and tend to lose grip due to balding. It is a safety concern and is best advised you invest in new tyres if the rubber is showing signs of balding. For those doing constant high speed highway runs, it would not be a bad idea to fill your tyres with nitrogen for better cooling.

Looks for any leaks or cracks on the belts and hoses – Check the hoses and belts: With the age of the vehicle, the pipes and hoses tend to crack as well and this could mean loss of precious fuel, coolant and what not. So, when your car goes in for servicing, make sure to ask the technician to do a check up on the perishable parts of the car.

Check the battery – Batteries tend to lose more charge during the summers than they do in winters. Summer heat can also cause car batteries to over charge, which will adversely shorten the life span of the battery. The heat could also cause the internal battery fluid to evaporate. So, in order to keep your battery running smoothly, make sure to keep it clean. Remove any dust that has accumulated around the battery base and the terminals. Also, if you are not using the car for a couple of days, it is advisable to detach the cable for the said period. Check up for any cracked or lose wires as well, which may drain the battery.

Carry the essentials – Summers may be harsh, but you need to make sure that you make the most out of the sunny days. So, don’t avoid those road trips, but do carry some essentials for a hassle free drive. Always have an emergency medical kit handy along with a multi-purpose tool kit. Carry the spare tyre checked and inflated as well as its auxiliary tools, should you face a flat. Your boot should also have at least a large bottle of water and half a bottle of coolant stacked for emergencies. Lastly, remember to clean your car regularly, there’s nothing better than a squeaky clean vehicle parked outside.

So, you just read some care required for you cars especially in summer. More you care of your car better the performance you will get and car will ensure you to reach at your destination with comfort. Have more ways to protect your car this summer? Please share it with us too.