While car maintenance is important throughout the year, there are certain things that are more likely to cause problems over the warm summer months. Below, we reveal expert tips from the Which? team and some of our Trusted Trader garages.
Fed up being let down by your car? Discover the1. Check coolant levels
Intense summer heat means your engine has to work harder to stay cool, so we recommend checking coolant levels more frequently – particularly before a long journey.
If there's not the correct dilution of antifreeze in your car's coolant tank, it could cause engine damage when the weather starts to turn.When topping up, use a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze (or whatever is recommended by your car’s manufacturer). And don’t attempt to unscrew the coolant tank's lid if you’ve just driven your car – the sudden release of pressure could end up spraying hot water over you. Instead, wait for the engine to fully cool down, then unscrew the lid slowly, allowing any remaining pressure to safely escape.
See the cars that aced our tough lab tests2. Inspect your tyres
Your tyres are the only point of contact between the road and the rest of the car, so it’s vital to check them throughout the year. And in the summer, tyre degradation is more of an issue than you might think.
ot weather can cause tyres to expand, which can increase the risk of a blowoutParking your car in direct sunlight for extended periods can cause your tyres to crack, especially in summer months,' It’s a particular problem with cars that store their spare wheel on the outside of the car – that spare could be unusable when you really need it.As well as performing a visual inspection for cracks, bulges and other defects, you should also check the pressure on each tyre, including the spare. Inspect their tread, too – by law, car tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band across three quarters of the width of the tyre.
3. Test your air-con
If you've been saving your air conditioning for the height of summer, you might be in for a nasty surprise when you need it the most.
Air-con units that haven’t been used for months have a tendency to develop mould or suffer cracked seals; the former will result in a musty smell, while the latter means gases may escape, leaving your air-con ineffective.
It’s best to use your air-con sporadically throughout the year and test it thoroughly well in advance of a long journey.
If your air-con can’t drop the temperature by at least 10 degrees, there may be a fault.If your air-con isn’t up to scratch, get it checked by your local garage. It might just need a quick re-gas (depending on your car, this usually costs around £50-£100). And if you’re having to re-gas it more than once every couple of years, there could be a more serious (and more expensive) issue, such as a faulty condenser.
4. Stay safe in summer downpours
Sun, rain, wind, hail – you never know what the great British summer may throw at you. And if you’re on the road when there's a sudden downpour, you don’t want ineffective windscreen wipers blurring your view of the road ahead.
Your car’s wipers are much more likely to deteriorate in prolonged periods of hot, sunny weather, particularly if you usually park in strong sunlight.Visually inspect your car’s wipers and test their effectiveness with a quick squirt of screen wash. If your wipers struggle to clear the water, smear your windscreen or are showing cracks, get them replaced.
Windscreen wiper blades are usually fairly easy to fit, but for a small fee a local garage or car parts shop will do it for you. And don't forget to also check your rear wiper.
Find out which new and used cars we recommend under £5k, £10k and £15k5. Check your 12v battery
Dead batteries might be more associated with the winter, but they don’t like hot weather either. If your battery is already on its last legs, a sustained blast of hot weather might tip it over the edge.
An ageing battery can die suddenly at any time, but you can look out for warning signs such as it taking longer for your car to start and the interior light dimming while doing so. If you need to jump start your car, watch our video to find out how to do it safely, then get the battery checked by your local garage.
If you’re in any doubt as to the condition of your battery – or are planning a long summer trip – it’s best to get it checked.
‘Things have a habit of going wrong when left to the last minute bolts and fittings can (and do) break, while parts can be hard to source.Use our battery care guide to understand how you should look after your car’s battery.
6. Inspect your bike rack
The summer is great for bike rides, but if you're planning to go further afield and load bikes onto the top or rear of your car it's important to do a few checks first – especially if you’ve not used your bike rack since last summer.
Only after I’d loaded four bikes onto my car last summer did I think to check the rack’s condition. I hadn't used it for months and on closer inspection rust had attacked a number of the joints, leaving the rack dangerously unsafe.If you're using a bike rack on top of your car, make sure the roof rack it’s attached to is also in good condition.
7. Check your breakdown cover
No matter how many checks you carry out on your car, there’s always the chance something will go wrong. Having breakdown cover offers peace of mind, but check that it covers things like breakdowns at your home. Our research shows your car is most likely to suffer a breakdown at home, but cheaper policies often exclude cover for this. And if you’re taking your car abroad this summer, check your cover is valid for all the countries you’re travelling through.
Most new cars come with a comprehensive form of breakdown cover, while older cars sometimes get a year’s cover if you service them at an approved dealership,' Drive smarter and cut costs using our expert advice.source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/car-experts-reveal-the-7-essential-maintenance-checks-you-must-do-this-summer-alqpw4c5aahg-aLQPW4c5AaHg