Summer time means road trips in addition to commuting, running errands, and shuttling the kids around. That is a lot of time spent driving in high temperatures. Summer can be tough on cars; heat can destroy batteries and stress the cooling system and tires. As a precaution, your vehicle components should be checked periodically during summer to help avoid breakdowns and car problems. At Getting Paid To Drive, we want to be sure you have a reliable car all year round to make that extra money.
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You may know about “winterizing” your vehicle, but do you “summer-ize” your vehicle? Before you hit the road to run errands or head for your favorite summer destinations, check out this list of maintenance suggestions:
- Check your tires. Tire pressure changes with rising temperatures approximately one to two PSI for every 10-degree increase in outside air temperature. With enough heat and pressure, the tire will eventually blow. Tires also need special care in warmer weather as high temperatures put added stress on them. To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it’s important to check the pressure when tires are cold.
- Change oil and oil filter. Oil keeps hardworking engine parts running clean, smooth and cool. Before you take that long distance summer road trip, check your oil. Heavy driving mixed with high temperatures can lead to an overheated engine
- Check hoses and belts. The key to successful summer driving is keeping the engine cool. If hoses crack or belts snap, the radiator can quickly overheat. Check hoses for cracks, leaks and loose connections as well as doing visual checks on belts for cracks and damages.
- Check the coolant and radiator.If an engine is allowed to get too hot, moving metal parts can actually start to melt and fuse together, causing a variety of engine problems. The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt and debris. The cooling system also works harder during hot temperatures to prevent overheating of the engine. To keep the cooling system working effectively, the coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle’s radiator should be 50:50. As a reminder, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.
- Maintain your air conditioning. You probably use the air conditioner in your car more than you think. The most common cause of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit is a low level of refrigerant. This could be caused by a leak in the system. Since modern AC systems are complex, it is best to have a professional check out the problem.
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At Getting Paid to Drive, we want you to drive safe AND help you make a little extra money all summer long. Get help paying for those high summer gas prices, by placing an ad on your car and getting paid. Find out more about how you can make some money doing what you already do every day.
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