How the Summer Heat Can Affect Your Vehicle

As we head further into 2022, we approach the warm months of summer. Many of us love the hotter part of the year, but it can cause problems inside and outside your car if you’re not careful. Learn how the summer heat can affect your vehicle and how you can avoid troubles in our helpful guide.

Exterior

The summer can be ruthless on the exterior of your car due to the sun and heat. The areas most typically affected are your vehicle’s tires and paint job.

Tires

Dramatic and quick changes in temperature can affect your tire pressure, leading to you driving on underinflated tires without knowing it. Driving on underinflated tires leads to uneven wear and tear, which is also a common cause for tires to overheat and then blow out, putting you and your passengers in danger on the road.

Blowouts are even more possible when road temperatures are extremely high. If you’ve got a long summer road trip on some hot roads, keep an eye on your tire pressure to stay safe.

Paint Job

The sun is one of the everyday things that can damage your car’s paint job. The sun’s UV-rays damage car paint and can cause accelerated fading and chipping. A protective coating of wax helps the paint stay shiny and young for longer.

Pro Tip: Park in the shade to keep your car from roasting in the sun all day and fading its paint.

Interior

The sweltering summer heat isn’t just harmful to the exterior of your car but the interior as well. During the summer, keep an eye on your car battery and engine fluids, as they’re common victims of summer heat.

Car Battery

Most people worry about their car battery in the frigid winter, but the steaming summer can be just as harmful. Extreme heat can disrupt the chemical processes of your car’s battery, leading to malfunction and loss of charge.

Battery fluid can also evaporate faster in the summer, so regularly check your battery’s charge and ensure no corrosion or damage throughout the season.

Oil and Other Fluids

Naturally, your car’s engine will get hotter in the summer, and a hot engine requires more lubrication to keep it from overheating and failing. Staying on schedule with your oil changes and other engine fluids is even more critical during the hotter months.

Regularly check on your coolant to ensure it’s at a healthy level so you don’t suddenly find yourself driving with an overheated engine on the road.

Now that you know how the summer heat can affect your vehicle, you’re better prepared to avoid car problems when the temperatures rise. Remember to keep a sharp eye on your fluids and tire pressure, and park in the shade to escape the harmful sun’s UV-rays.

Driving Tips:

• Most Common Road Hazards Threatening Your Car
• How To Not Get Lost on a Road Trip
• Three Bad Driving Habits that can Cost you Money
• How to Avoid Intersection Accidents
• Safe Driving Tips For the Big City
• Vacation Safety Tips
• How To Stay More Visible on the Road
• Winter Driving Tips in Bad Weather
• Common Types of Parking Lot Accidents
• What New Drivers Should Know About Their Cars

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For Local Car Show Calendar Click here!

Sue Baxter

Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.