Get Your Car Ready for Summer

Summer’s here and everyone is excited to get out for weekend road trips or day excursions. But before you leave on your next outdoor adventure, you need to spend some time getting your vehicle ready for the trip — and for the rest of the summer. Here are some tips and things to check or replace to make sure your car trips are worry-free and your car doesn’t leave you stranded halfway to your destination.

Check Your Tires

Tires are a common cause of vehicle issues. So first check your tires for the proper air pressure. Temperature changes between the winter and summer seasons can lead to changing tire pressures — even if you don’t have a leak. Adjust the pressure to the factory specifications to make sure you don’t have a flat or a blowout on your way to a day of fun. Also check your tire tread and general wear and look for any cracking or unusual wear patterns. To avoid flat tires, make sure your tires are safe to drive on.

Change Your Oil, Filter and Check Hoses

Next get an oil and filter change. If you don’t drive a lot, maybe you don’t think you need an oil change yet. But oil gets contaminated by moisture if your car sits through the winter or if you don’t run it long enough to get it thoroughly warmed up enough to expel the moisture. Also, many cars require a different type of oil for the warmer summer months than you need in the cold winter. Changing the oil keeps the heart of your vehicle (the engine) in top shape for the summer.

While you have the hood open, check all your hoses and belts. Look for large cracks or signs of wear, and if you see any, replace the belt or hose. A weak belt or hose usually breaks at the most inconvenient time, leaving you stranded and ruining your day.

Top Off Your Fluids

Also check all your fluids and top them off or change if necessary. Your antifreeze, brake fluid and other important liquids may slowly get used over time. Make sure all the levels are good and that the fluids are clean and free of dirt or cloudiness. Flush and replace any fluids that may need changing.  If any fluids are extra low, look for a leak or another problem. If not fixed, a small leak can cause a major problem down the line.

Replace Your Wiper Blades

One of the easiest and least expensive things you can do to prepare for summer is replace your wiper blades. The winter has been hard on your wiper blades, which get dried out, cracked from extreme temperatures, or scraped up from ice, road debris, and other gunk. Throw on a fresh set to keep your windshield free of bugs and dust, and make sure you can safely see in those sudden summer showers. Also check your washer fluid and keep it topped off over the summer to keep your windshield sparkling clean.

Keep Your Car Cool

Keep your interior cool by purchasing a windshield screen and window sunshades. This will help avoid sun damage to your dashboard and interior. Even in mild climates the sun can quickly damage your dashboard and other plastics and fade your paint and fabrics. When you have to park in the hot summer sun, sunshades also keep your car much cooler on warm days, making it more comfortable to get in when it’s time to drive. There’s nothing like grabbing a hot steering wheel or burning your legs on a hot seat to make you think twice about this small investment.

You also want to make sure your air conditioning system is working properly. Most newer cars will have a reliable air conditioning system, but a car over five years old may need a bit of a recharge before the summer. Have a technician check out the system and the charge to look for leaks and avoid future issues. Now is also a great time to replace your cabin air filter to help your A/C system work better by flowing more air through your vents. It also helps eliminate any funky odors that may have built up while your car was closed up all winter.

Here are some more tips to make your A/C work better:

• Keep your vents and cabin filter clean and clear of any obstructions to maximize airflow
• If you have to park in the sun, use your windshield screen and sunshades and slightly open your sunroof or windows to ventilate hot air that builds up in the sun
• Once you start the A/C, keep the windows rolled up until the car is cooled down — having the windows cracked at this point will let more hot air in than is ventilated out
• When you first turn on the A/C in a hot car, set it to “Recirculate” and the temperature as low as it will go until the car is initially cooled down, then adjust to your preferred settings
• Make sure your A/C drain is not clogged to prevent your air conditioning system from freezing up and avoid moldy/musty smells

Tidy Up Your Vehicle

Clean your car inside and out. While summer doesn’t cause as much damage to your car as winter, giving it a good clean (and keeping it clean) will help your car last longer. This is a good time to wash the inside of your windshield and windows, getting rid of all the gunk that built up over the winter. Get all of the salt and road residue off of your car and give your car a good coat of wax to protect your paint from sun, sand, and bird droppings.

Maintenance Is Key

The most important thing is keeping up with regular maintenance, like oil changes, tire rotations, fluid checks and other tasks based on the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. You should check your oil every other gas fill-up and your tire pressure at least monthly. For everything else, you can trust the Nissan-trained factory technicians at Neil Huffman Nissan in Frankfort to keep you on schedule and running smoothly. Make an appointment for your summer maintenance by phone at 502-385-0940 or online today.

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