CRS Automotive

CRS Automotive | Hamilton & Cambridge, ON Auto Repair

  • Car Sales
    • Premium pre-owned vehicles Cambridge, ON
  • Vehicle Service
    • A/C and Heating
    • Brakes Services
    • Fleet Services
    • Oil Changes
    • Suspension Services
    • Tire Services
  • Get Approved
  • Referral Program
  • Appointments
  • Blog
  • Contact us
    • About us
    • Google reviews

How to Help Your Car Survive Summer Heat

August 27, 2018 By CRS Automotive

Summer heat is great for some things in life – lounging by the sea, working on your tan and having barbeques in between – but rest assured that your car does not share the sentiment. Especially if left in the scorching sun. Most drivers are aware that cold weather affects cars and that they should prepare their vehicles for winter weather every year, but rare are those who do the same when it comes to summer. Mind you, summer heat can be a formidable adversary to every vehicle, so drivers must be diligent in preparing their cars for surviving the summer heat. Here is how to do that.

cars in sun

1) Make sure the battery has enough water and no corrosion

It is assumed by most drivers that winter is the worst possible season on the car battery. The truth is – summer is even worse! We have touched upon that in our infographic from last week where we showcased 5 ways hot weather affects your car. For instance, car batteries contain water and acid and require both liquids in certain amounts in order to have enough amperage to start vehicles. If their levels drop – as can happen in the summer heat – lead plates in batteries are left dry and exposed making the batteries useless. The heat can also cause corrosion build-up, a problem stemming from vibration damage, which can lead to connection issues.

Make sure to find a shade for parking your car in the summer heat, so as to avoid battery liquid evaporation in extremely high temperatures. Also, be certain that there is no corrosion on the terminals, as well as that the battery is mounted firmly and securely to minimize vibrations in the future.

2) Keep the engine cool

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that cars heat while working – especially those with the internal combustion engine. Generally speaking, ICEs are most efficient at approximately 93 °C (200 °F), but that can also mean that if not cooled down promptly and correctly, moving metal parts of the engine can start to melt and fuse together resulting in car breaking down and needing a serious repair job. That is why there is a cooling system with a series of pumps, hoses, thermostats and fans coupled with a chemical coolant – antifreeze – to keep the engine at the optimal running temperature. However, that also means that if any of the parts in the system are malfunctioning – low coolant level, cracked or softened hose, loose or broken belt, radiator leak or loose or missing radiator cap – it may cause your vehicle to overheat and break down.

Once in a while, but more frequently during the summer, pop the hood of your car and make sure there is enough coolant in there. Not only that, generally speaking, you should flush your radiator with a special fluid that cleans the inside of the radiator of the debris and build-up and add fresh coolant at least every 2 years. The summer recipe for coolant mixture is 50% antifreeze and 50% water, but you can always just buy the premixed coolant if you are out of time, patience or skillset to deal with the measurements. Also check under the car for coolant leaks if your car has been parked in the sun for long periods of time, and if you spot one, take your car to your trusted mechanic for a system check-up.

3) Check if tire pressure is optimal

Tires may seem as something that can be overlooked during summer as there is so much hype about wet or slippery driving conditions during the other seasons (which is just one of the reasons you need winter tires), but summer heat has a big influence on tire health. With temperatures rising, so does the pressure inside your car’s tires: approximately 1-2 PSI for every 10 degrees the outside temperature rises. Furthermore, every major fluctuation in the pressure level of your tires can build upon their wears and tears and well as any alignment issues potentially making summer driving a dangerous affair. For example, an under-inflated tire will bulge outward and put pressure on the sidewalls of the tire, which will make braking nearly impossible and is bound to blow if exposed to enough heat and pressure. On the other hand, over-inflated tires have “a looser grip” on the asphalt and can cause you to slide right through a wet patch of the road.

So, you need to regularly check the pressure in your tires, not only in those mounted on your vehicle, but the spare one as well! Or just leave that to your mechanic to do when he checks your tire alignment and tread depth.

4) Top off the fluids

Coolant level aside, all the other fluids in the car also need to be checked regularly – and you can even do it yourself! During the summer, make a habit of checking all vehicle fluids including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid and making sure they are filled to the appropriate levels (as instructed in the car’s manual) and that there are no leaks. Moreover, while checking the oil level, you need to pay special attention to its appearance as well. Oil’s normal color should be brownish yellow and clean on the stick with which you’ve checked its level. If the oil is dark in color or if there’s a lot of dirt and grime in it, then you definitely need an oil change and oil filter replacement.

5) Maintain the car A/C

The air conditioning unit in your car is there for more than just convenience. Yes, everyone likes to be able to get away from the summer heat wherever and however possible, but a properly functioning car A/C also helps you driving. Not only does it help cool down your automotive machine in its entirety, but it also plays a big part in keeping the driving alert while actively participating in traffic.

The best way to tell if your car’s A/C is not functioning as it should is if it can’t generate or maintain air temperatures that are 10 °C (50 °F) below the ambient outside air temperature. There is a number of possible causes of such a malfunction, such as compressor not engaging, refrigerant leaking, broken or blocked condenser, electrical failure or blend door not closing properly. Be advised that modern car A/C systems are complex, so it’s best to have yours checked out a by a professional and have them tell you why your car A/C system blows warm air and resolve the problem.

Next week you will read about how to survive driving a car with no A/C in the heat.

Until then, if you have a sneaking suspicion that the summer heat has affected your car after reading this article, come to our repair shops in Hamilton today and let us take care of your automotive pet. We are expecting you!

Related posts:

Why Buy from an OMVIC-Certified Dealer?
6 Mistakes to Avoid While Cleaning Car Wheels (updated)
4 Best Apps for car maintenance (updated)
Your car's fluid levels: How to check them and why (updated)

Filed Under: Advice, Cambridge, ON, Car Battery, Car Maintenance, Cooling System, Driving Tips, Hamilton, Ontario, CA, Safety Tips, Summer Car Care, Tires, Trusted Mechanic Cambridge, ON, Trusted Mechanic Hamilton Tagged With: Car Battery, Car Cooling System, Car Maintenance, Car Tires, Hamilton Ontario, Mechanic Hamilton, Safety Tips, Summer Car Maintenance, Summer Driving Tips

Search

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Get Your Appointment Contact us

Subscribe

Recent Posts

  • 7 Dashboard Lights You Don’t Want to Ignore (updated)
  • Niki Lauda: Born to Drive (updated)
  • What Is the Lifespan of Your Car? (updated)
  • The Most and Least Reliable SUVs for 2023 | Infographic
  • How to Store Tires Properly (updated)

Categories

  • Advice
    • Car Kits
    • Driving Tips
    • Safety Tips
  • Auto Repair
    • Car Battery
    • Cooling System
    • Dashboard Lights
    • My Auto Shop
    • Tires
    • Wheels
  • Car Dealership
    • Cambridge, ON Used Car Dealerships Archives
    • Car Brands
    • Car Buying
    • Car Makers
    • Car Models
    • Electric Cars
    • Total Cost of Ownership
  • Car Maintenance
    • Spring Car Care
    • Summer Car Care
    • Winter Car Care
  • CRS Automotive
    • Trusted Mechanic Cambridge, ON
    • Trusted Mechanic Hamilton
  • Ontario, CA
    • Cambridge, ON
    • Carbon Tax
    • Hamilton
  • People in the Automotive Industry Archives
    • Bertha Benz
    • Charlotte Bridgwood
    • Danica Patrick
    • Denise McCluggage
    • Elon Musk
    • Florence Lawrence
    • Jeremy Clarkson
    • Karl Benz
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Linda Hasenfratz
    • Mary Barra
    • Michael Schumacher
    • Niki Lauda
    • Trista Schieffer
  • Smart Cars
    • Car Apps
    • Connected Vehicles
    • Internet of Things
    • Smart Cities
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017

Working Hours

Hamilton

Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sat: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sun: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Cambridge, ON Vehicle Sales

Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun: Closed

Search Inventory

Search Inventory Search Inventory
Year:
   
Make:
   
Model:
   
Body Style:
+
 -

Find Us

Hamilton

999 King Street East,
Hamilton, ON L8M 1C6

(905) 544-8335

service@crsautomotive.com

Cambridge, ON

75 Water Street South,
Cambridge, ON, N1R 3C9

(905) 469-8335

sales@crsautomotive.com

Why Choose Us?

Open 7 Days a Week. Open Late.

Free Shuttle Service

24 Months / 40 K Warranty

Towing Service Available

Complete Auto Repair Service

Advanced Diagnostic Equipment

Auto service and maintenance Hamilton

CRS Automotive Stoney Creek car sale logo

Copyright © 2005-2019 CRS Automotive. Site Map
Powered by KEY27 Marketing Oakville

  • Home
  • Premium pre-owned vehicles Cambridge, ON
  • Vehicle Service
  • Get Approved
  • Specials
  • Appointments
  • Blog
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About us
    • Google reviews