Summer Car Care: How to Prepare Your Car for Florida’s Summer Heat

June 21, 2021
/ FAQs
/ By Alice Brown

It's about that time of the year in Florida, where the temperatures get extremely hot and humid. Not only are the people here affected by the heat, but also animals, homes, and automobiles. So, as you look for ways to cool the house and shield yourself from the heat, it's also important to remember your property.

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The high temperatures of summer also cause torrential rains, which don't go easy on the roads. If you don't prepare your car, it can be a great hazard to drive around with the high temperatures and the surprise downpours. You'll not only put yourself at risk but also other road users.

Here are some tips to protect your car, yourself, and other drivers while navigating Florida’s summer extremes:

Maintain the Air Conditioning

The first thing always required is checking your car's A/C. While you might have been able to maintain a comfortable temperature this spring by simply rolling the windows down, that won’t last through the summer. First, check if your AC system in good condition. If it's not, get a mechanic or technician to help in Freon gas refill, fix any leaks, and change filters if necessary.

Check Your Car's Cooling System

Your entire cooling system needs a checkup because your car may experience overheating during the summertime. You'll never want to go through the ride through those breakdowns. So, make sure you flush the entire coolant system and refill it after every twenty-four months. If your car’s cooling system fails, your car won’t be the only one overheating on the side of the road.

Check the Engine Oil

Changing engine oil is very important, especially if you've stayed for long without doing it. The sole purpose of engine oil is to keep parts lubricated and functional while filters prevent dust, particles, and harmful debris from getting to the oil system. It's always necessary to have clean filters that will prevent unwanted materials.

Oil is the lifeblood of your car and increases your driving capacity during summer. Clean oil ensures ultimate engine performance. Also, ensure the oil in the engine is at the recommended level. Always change the oil changed after the recommended 3000 miles drive.

Check Other Fluids

Chances of overheating are always high during summer. You must always check the level of coolant fluids to ensure they're perfect to handle the summer heat. The engine oil reduces friction hence leveling the heat produced, while coolant fluid helps the engine to remain at optimal temperatures. Having the recommended level of coolant fluids at any given time will give you the optimum experience while driving through hot days.

Another fluid that needs to be checked is power steering oil. It should be at the best level to avoid unnecessary breakdown and mayhem while driving on a hot summer day. Others are transmission fluids and windshield wiper fluids, which you must also check before summer.

Check Your Battery

Your car battery needs a routine check regardless of what season of the year. Car batteries are prone to summer heat problems. Heat increases the rate of fluid loss leading to oxidation of battery components. You don't even need an expert to check corrosion and the battery fluid level. Keep checking; refill it with distilled water to the best level. You can use available soda solutions and a hard brush to clean corroded terminals.

It is a fact that heat is the number one cause of battery failure and low performance, so leave no chance by ensuring regular checks and maintenance of your battery.

Inspect Tires

A car with the wrong tire or damaged ones is a big risk on the roads. Too much summer heat softens the tire rubber that a little prick by stone or piece of metal will pause your journey. Therefore, it is in your best advice to check if the tires need changing and do it as soon as possible.

The high summer temperatures in Florida can easily flatten your tires by melting them. It's advisable to change your tires with newer ones if you've had occasions with punctures and mending. Keep maintaining the correct tire pressure to increase the longevity of your tires hence ultimate performance.

Do not over-inflate, as this may put you in jeopardy while driving. An over-inflated tire can easily lose traction during one of Florida’s torrential downpours. This can lead to a dangerous, serious accident.

Take Care of the Wipers

During summer, roads seem to get dusty due to dryness caused by too much heat. This dust may scratch your windshield even in parking. Replace the bald wipers and refill the wiper cleaning fluids as soon as possible. Regardless, you should change your wipers twice a year.

Occasionally, you'll experience surprise thunderstorms. Rhino Lawyers in Tampa warns, “When your wipers are not in good condition, a heavy rain can prove to be catastrophic if windshield wipers are properly maintained. When a driver can’t see through the rain, they can easily hit another vehicle on the road.”

Get Your Car Ready for Summer

As you get yourself, your homes, and other things ready for summer, never forget your automobiles. Also remember that car maintenance is not a one-season practice. The above tips will be of great help while preparing to ride through the heat and high temperatures of Florida.