The summer time vacation season is all but upon us and if you are going to be clocking up the miles over the next couple of months, it’s time to make positive your vehicle is up to the job.
Generating sure your vehicle is prepared to take the strain of summer is just as critical a job as giving it the once-over for winter.
So right here are some crucial maintenance ideas to make confident your vehicle up to speed for the summer…
Air conditioning
If you’re going to be driving any sort of distance you don’t want to be carrying out so in a baking hot motor, and so you should make confident your air conditioning technique is functioning at complete capacity just before setting off.
Not only will a fully functioning method keep your auto cool, it can also help to reduce pollen levels in autos and so will also benefit any person who suffers from hay fever.
Attempt not to maintain the aircon on all of the time, although, as it does enhance fuel consumption – a excellent rule of thumb is to drive with the windows down at city speeds or in stop-start targeted traffic, and put the windows up and the aircon on when you start acquiring up towards speeds upwards of about 50mph.
Air filters
Air filter are designed to preserve dirt and debris from getting into the car and can swiftly get clogged up, particularly in summer time. So make confident they’re replaced each and every year way to help the airflow through your vehicle and also assist any hay fever sufferers on board.
Cooling fan
The cooling fan usually kicks in when the car’s engine appears like it could overheat – usually when the needle hits the middle of the temperature gauge. If the fan seizes or fails to begin this can lead to the engine coolant boiling which can result in the engine some severe damage.
To verify your fan is not about to suffer a funny turn is to turn the heater to cold and run the automobile to regular temperature – where the needle usually sits on the gauge – then park up and leave the engine idling for 5 minutes, at which point the fan must kick in.
If it doesn’t and the gauge starts creeping up, switch the engine off and get a mechanic out.
Engine coolant
You ought to verify your engine coolant levels as soon as a week, specifically in summer when there is a greater risk of the engine overheating. When the engine is cold, the coolant fluid level must sit between the minimum and maximum markings on the tank and this level should remain the exact same among services.
If the level has dropped, verify for any cracks in the tank or a loose cap and if everything is in order get it checked out by mechanic as it could signify a serious engine difficulty.
Breakdown cover
All of the above need to be carried out in addition to any standard auto maintenance checks you carry out, such as tyre condition, oil levels and so on, all of which are outlined in my report Auto upkeep essentials.
Nonetheless, this is nevertheless no assure that you will not suffer a breakdown, so it is essential you get enough breakdown cover in place, no matter whether you are driving your car at residence or abroad.
For a rapid overview of the levels of breakdown cover on provide, check out the brief video below, and to examine prices click on our breakdown cover comparison tool.
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And if you break down on the motorway, there are a few things you require to keep in mind:
- You and any passengers should usually exit the automobile by way of the left-hand door and then stand nicely away from the car, preferably behind a safety barrier.
- Get the number of the nearest motorway marker point – these are located each 100 metres, or on a square blue sign every single 500 metres and your recovery service may possibly want the quantity to pinpoint your location.
- In no way try a repair on the motorway hard shoulder, usually contact your breakdown recovery service.
Have you got any essential ideas to take the heat out of driving in summer? Let us know…
Essential upkeep suggestions for summer driving
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