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Summer weather may open up a world of cookouts and weekend warrior trips for us normally, but for our vehicles, it’s not as fun. The heat of summer brings can cause damage to our vehicles, bringing the good vibes of the season down for us. Here are a few of the ways heat impacts your car and how you can protect your ride from it:
Tires
As the sun beats down on your tires and the roads they sit on, it can cause damage to them. Tires have natural oils that keep them pliable and able to take a punch. Too much sun and heat can dry your tires out, making them more brittle and susceptible to blowouts. If your tires are improperly inflated, the potential for blow-outs is increased. Even if your tires were properly inflated before the weather turned hot, the air pressure in them can increase as the gas inside expands.
To combat this, make a habit of taking measurements of your tires’ psi levels to ensure they’re at the correct level. Try to park in shaded areas and keep an eye on your tires’ sidewalls for signs of warping or other structural damage.
Paint
Harmful UV rays from the sun are both detrimental to skin and your vehicle’s paint job. These rays can cause your paint to lose its color, dulling down your vehicle’s appearance.
To avoid this, apply a coat of wax to your vehicle’s exterior after your visits to the car wash. These coats don’t just make your car look good, but they also act as a shield between your car’s paint and the sun. You can also invest in a car cover if you don’t have access to a shady parking area.
Engine
The worst possible damage heat can cause is to your vehicle’s engine. Your engine gets very hot as it does its job, and it’s up to coolant to keep it from overheating. During the winter, we call coolant ‘antifreeze,’ but it’s the same thing throughout the year. Low levels of coolant can leave your engine without a way to cool down as it works, causing it to heat up and potentially damage itself. If you let your engine run without a proper coolant, it’s not a question of if it will be damaged, but when.
Make sure your car has enough coolant to keep it functioning. This is an easy task you should perform at least at the beginning of every summer and winter.
Gas
Excessive heat can also damage your fuel economy. High temperatures cause gasoline to evaporate faster than it does in the winter, leading to lower fuel efficiency. This problem is somewhat inevitable, but you can reduce the rate at which your gasoline evaporates by parking your car in the shade, or preferably in a cool garage.
Keep these dangers in mind as you drive through your summer days. Protect your vehicle from the damages summer heat can cause to prolong the life of your car and your wallet.
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