During the warm season, preparing your car for use requires just as much care as in winter. For many car owners, summer means road trips, which often involve long distances, so it is important to be confident in your vehicle. That is why you need to check and, if necessary, repair all mechanisms. In this article, we will tell you how to prepare your car for summer and how to operate it correctly in hot weather to avoid serious breakdowns.
Preparing your car for summer: step-by-step instructions
Preparing your car for summer use involves several key points. We offer step-by-step instructions recommended by experts.
Wash your car. The first desire of most drivers after a long Russian winter is to see their car clean and shiny. Assess the condition of the paintwork and bodywork. Salt, rain, and snow cause the paint to peel and scratches to appear. It is recommended to repair any damage before the onset of summer. Tidy up the inside of the car and remove any unnecessary items from the trunk.
Clean the undercarriage. Don’t just wash the exterior of the body panels; clean all parts of the vehicle’s undercarriage. Over the winter, dirt, sand, and salt accumulate on the suspension and underbody of the car. These cause rubber components to wear out faster, and the buildup also causes moisture to accumulate, leading to corrosion.
Washing the car
Check the brake system. Properly functioning brakes are a key safety feature. Drivers are required by law to monitor their condition. When removing wheels for seasonal storage, assess the condition of the brake discs and the thickness of the brake pads. Replace any damaged parts of the system immediately. Check the brake fluid level. Cleaning and lubricating the caliper guides and brake pad seats will increase their service life and save fuel when operating the car.
Make sure the battery is in good working order. High temperatures can seriously damage the battery. Heat accelerates the rate of chemical reactions inside the battery, which reduces its capacity and service life. Clean the battery terminals before the summer season or replace it with a new one if it has started to lose its charge. Also check the fastening and fixation of the terminals.
Refill the air conditioner. Check the operation of the cabin cooling system before the heat arrives. If necessary, repair and refill the air conditioner. The presence of a sufficient amount of refrigerant in the system can only be seen with the help of special equipment at a service station.
Check the coolant level and radiator. High temperatures increase the load on the cooling system. Drivers are advised to check the coolant level, clean the radiator, and inspect it for cracks and corrosion. This will reduce the likelihood of engine failure due to overheating.
Car diagnostics
Check the filters. In winter, the air filter experiences increased stress—it becomes clogged with salt and other solid particles that prevent air from entering the engine. Replacing the air and fuel filters ahead of schedule will help reduce fuel consumption, and replacing the cabin filter will get rid of the allergenic pollen that has accumulated over the spring.
Check the belts and hoses. During the summer season, it is important to ensure that the engine does not overheat. Hoses and drive belts play an important role in the cooling system. Wear and cracks can lead to malfunction or breakdown of the internal combustion engine. If you find any problems, replace them as soon as possible.
Assess the condition of the treads. Most drivers know that it is dangerous to use tires that are not suitable for the season. It is important to make sure that the summer tread pattern of a wheel removed in the fall is suitable for use. Inspect the tire externally to see if the tread has peeled off or cracked. Assess the remaining tread depth and evenness of wear. If the rubber is worn unevenly, contact a service station to diagnose the suspension and check the wheel alignment.