The brutal Texas summer is fast approaching. For many of us, no amount of preparation can make us truly ready for the blistering south Texas heat. Something many of us often forget, however, is preparing our daily-driver vehicles to weather the summer. Your car or truck can be either a haven from the elements, or a torturous experience during your weekday commute. Thankfully, there are ways to ensure that your vehicle performs and functions as designed, even while Texas is cooking!
Your vehicle needs fluids just like you do, and neglecting to change or fill them can have catastrophic results.
- Engine oil lubricates the components of your engine and also draws heat away. Dirty oil can be thick and gritty, damaging the precision-machined internals and doing a terrible job of cooling your engine. Running on old oil can result in costly repairs and flushes, changing your oil on time can save you and your wallet a lot of heartache.
- Coolant is essential to the heat dissipation of your engine. It works in tandem with your engine oil to keep the internal temperatures as low as possible, ensuring reliable function of your vehicle. Coolant lines can also develop cracks and holes, and should be checked regularly.
- Brake and Power Steering fluids operate important hydraulic functions. While you may be able to get by without power steering (it's a workout, I assure you), you obviously can't drive safely without brakes.
Your engine belts are rubber, which doesn't play nice with the south Texas summer heat. A broken belt means, at best, an unpleasant drive or, at worst, a vehicle stopped in its tracks. Your belts should be checked regularly for cracks and wear.
Batteries only last so long, and the connections can develop corrosion that can affect the way your engine starts and performs. If your battery is bad or dead, have a professional check on your alternator too. These two parts work together to provide electric power to your vehicle. Occasionally, when one fails, the other is not far behind (or even responsible).
Take a breath and a break before we continue. Vehicle maintenance is complicated, I know, but our professional technicians are here to ease your worries and make your life that much simpler and easier.
What's the worst thing that can happen during the summer? Your A/C fails. Now you're stuck on a highway that looks more like a parking lot, it's over 100º outside, and you're cooking. For some, this can even lead to a health emergency! This can be prevented by having a professional check your A/C system for leaks and failures.
We already know that rubber and heat are not the best of friends, so we can assume your tires might need some love as we move into the summer months. Check that you have sufficient tread left and that there is no damage to the tire walls. Blowouts are no fun, and even less so in the heat.