Let’s talk about how to make sure your car is ready for all the fun adventures you have planned this summer!
When the weather heats up, there are a few things that are always good to check: the AC system, the cabin air filter, the cooling system, the tires, the battery, and the windshield wipers.
The AC system uses a substance called freon to cool your car, and over time the hoses it runs through can wear out and leak. To keep your AC pumping cool air during the summer, it sometimes needs to be “recharged.” Mechanics use a machine to evacuate all the freon and refill it with fresh freon. If you find it has to be recharged frequently, a mechanic can check for leaks using a dye that colors the freon, making any leaks show up along the hoses. If the AC isn’t blowing air at all, the problem might be something else, like the AC compressor, which is essentially the motor of the system.
The cabin air filter cleans the air that comes through the vents, keeping what you breathe in the car fresh. L&L Repair suggests changing it every spring. During the winter, moisture builds up in the filter, and come summer the heat can leave it moldy or dirty. If your AC makes the car smell musty, that’s often a sign the filter needs changing.
When it’s running properly, the cooling system keeps your car about 20 degrees colder inside than out. Sometimes the grill gets dirty, which prevents the system from working as it should. It also needs antifreeze to cool down. Antifreeze is usually green, though the color can vary by car and model, and mechanics use test strips to check it. The wrong antifreeze can eat the metals in your radiator. Over time, antifreeze corrodes and turns acidic, which wears out the hoses. If the car can’t cool itself down, it won’t keep running, so this is an important one to check.
Heat is hard on tires. Because they spin, they generate friction and heat, which is why tire pressure is essential to maintain. Each tire has a recommended fill level, known as psi, and the more air in the tire, the more heat it helps dissipate. Proper psi helps each tire last longer by shedding heat as it runs. The tread is the lifeblood of a tire: good tread means good traction, and good traction means a safer car on the road. Alignment matters too. When tires aren’t aligned, they wear unevenly and go bad quicker.
Your car’s battery doesn’t like drastic temperature changes, and more heat means more pressure on it. Everyone knows what it’s like to be stuck in a store parking lot waiting for a friend to come jump the battery. To avoid that, get your battery checked.
Wiper blades usually last about 6 months in Utah weather. The fluctuation from hot to cold and back is rough on them and can actually warp the blades so they no longer work. They tend to last longer in climates that are consistently rainy and wet. Windshield wiper fluid helps clean the glass, especially with all the dirt, bugs, and grime that come during the summer months.
Lynn Mason at L&L Repair recommends that drivers keep survival supplies in the car for summer, such as a sunshade, water, electrolytes, snacks, and battery cables. Imagine being stuck on the side of the highway with your little ones in 90-degree weather. A sunshade could keep the car that much cooler while you wait for help. Being prepared for situations like this could save your life!
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