With the hot summer months still ahead of us, it’s a good time to take a few minutes to make sure your car is in proper condition to safely endure the hot temperatures.   The most important mechanism for cooling down your car’s engine is the radiator.  Make sure the fluid levels are sufficient, and check back frequently throughout the hot months, as more fluid is used during this time to keep the engine cool.

Also, check that your air conditioning system is working properly.   The most noticeable sign of an A/C problem is if no cold air blows through the system, implying a low level of refrigerant, or a more serious issue with the system.  If you notice leaking from under the front of the car in addition to the A/C not blowing cold air as expected, this could be a sign that the refrigerant is leaking.

Your vehicle’s tires get a lot more wear in the summer, so make sure they have the correct about of tire pressure to avoid more unnecessary wear.  Tires can lose about 1 psi each month, so be sure to check back regularly to ensure the inflation level is where it should be.  The proper level for your vehicle can usually be found on a sticker on the inner driver-side door.  Don’t forget about your spare tire!  Ensure your spare is safe and ready to use in case of an emergency, this may mean it could use some more air, too.

While we don’t want to think about emergencies, especially during the fun summer months while driving to the pool, it’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit prepared.  For the summer especially, include bottled water, small battery-operated fans, and sunscreen in your kit.

Click here for more tips on safe summer driving.

As we enjoy the warm summer weather, there are more days where your car is exposed to the hot sun which can lead to fading or premature rusting. During the summer, your car is also exposed to more grit and grime from road trips like bird waste, bugs, and other debris that can cause damage to the surface of your car’s paint. The summer sun adds to this by baking debris into your car’s paint, making it harder to remove.

There are some precautions you can take to protect your car’s paint from fading or getting ruined by the summer sun.

Wash your car frequently

Washing your car regularly will reduce the possibility of dirt or other debris from ruining your car’s paint job. The longer dirt or debris bakes and dries into your car, the more likely it is to penetrate the paint and the more difficult it may be to remove. Washing or rinsing your car off ASAP after objects have dirtied your car is highly recommended.

Hand dry your car after a wash

It’s easy to let your car air dry after you wash your car, but water spots can leave minerals behind that can lead to the fading of your car’s paint job. To prevent fading, make sure you use clean cotton rags to absorb and dry away the water spots.

Wax your car

Waxing your car creates an extra level of protection from dirt, debris, and also helps protect your car from the summer sun’s rays.

Keep your car in a cool place

Parking your car in a garage, under trees or somewhere where you can shield your car from the summer sun will not only prevent your car’s paint job from fading, but also helps keep your interior, headlights and tires in better shape.

We hope these tips are helpful to protect your car from the hot summer sun, but if you do end up getting fading or blemishes, you can find an auto body shop near you at Carwise.com to help restore your car’s paint job to its original state.