Just like humans, cars don’t like extreme heat or extreme cold. Since summer is upon us, let’s talk about the maintenance you can be doing to avoid a costly breakdown.
Cooling system: One of the most common primary cause of summer breakdowns is overheating caused by a cooling system malfunction. A cooling system that isn’t running at peak efficiency cannot keep the engine at the correct operating temperature. Get it flushed every 30,000 miles to ensure everything is moving smoothly.
A note for do-it-yourselfers: The most common coolant type contains ethylene glycol, which according to the EPA is toxic to humans and animals. Because of this it must be disposed of properly, so a flush might be something you should let a professional perform for you. When performing a coolant flush, the technician should also check the condition of the belts, hoses, engine fan, and thermostat. Any of these could cause a problem, so they should be inspected by a trained professional.
Oil: We all know that oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and it also provides cooling for your engine so don’t overlook this important element. Replacing the oil at the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) suggested intervals is essential. It is just as important to use the oil weight and grade specified by your OEM (check your owner’s manual for the requirements).
Air conditioning: Your car’s A/C keeps you cool, but if it’s not clean it can cause engine overheating. The A/C condenser is located right in front of the radiator and a dirty condenser can block airflow to it. As a result of emission requirements, newer engines have higher operating temperatures than engines built, say, 20 years ago. Because of this, their cooling systems must be operating at peak performance to provide the durability we have come to expect.
Overall, maintenance is the keyword to remember here. By doing a little upkeep now, your car should be running happily into the fall.
For more tips from Mike, visit LetsTalkWheels.com. Be sure to subscribe to the new Let’s Talk Wheels podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play.
