We usually think of auto maintenance as something you do after a certain number of miles or when a warning light dings. Hot weather and long road trips put some pretty intense stress on a vehicle, though, so it’s important to think about summer car maintenance now while the temperatures are rising.
Stop by your local car maintenance shop to check the engine, belts, brakes, and more—especially if it’s been a while since a professional mechanic looked at your vehicle.
Summer Car Maintenance
Here are some examples of spring and summer car maintenance routines you should invest in:
- Change the windshield wiper blades
- Refill windshield wiper fluid
- Clean the engine bay
- Add distilled water to the car battery, if necessary
- Replace the cabin air filter
Please note that some of these tasks can be downright dirty. You might also waste an entire afternoon reading the owner’s manual. We do recommend visiting the auto shop for car maintenance to take care of everything quickly and neatly (and so a pro can catch small problems before they grow to bigger issues later).
Car Maintenance Checklist for Hot Weather
Wouldn’t you rather visit the car maintenance shop while it’s in the 70s than break down on the side of the road when it’s in the 90s? Pay attention to signs you need car repair and be proactive with routine maintenance.
Make sure you’re up to date on oil changes. If you’re unsure, pull out the dipstick to check the engine oil and look to see if the oil looks dark and dirty or clean and amber. You need a car tune-up every 30,000 miles or so to replace the spark plugs and other parts, too.
Here’s what you should also consider for getting your car ready for a road trip and summer car maintenance in general:
- Check the coolant. Overheated engines spell big trouble. We inspect the coolant tank and nozzle for leaks or damage, then refill the coolant with a quality product.
- Check the car AC system. Overheated humans are no fun, either! Ask your car maintenance mechanic to inspect for refrigerant leaks and recharge the refrigerant if needed.
- Replace auto air filters. Change both the engine air filter and the cabin air filter for better performance and comfort.
- Replace brake pads and brake fluid. Hot weather can be rough on brakes. After the rain and temperature swings of spring, be safe and replace or at least inspect the brake pads and fluid.
- Check tire pressure, rotate tires: Get a wheel alignment and/or rotate the tires if they look worn unevenly. Auto tires tend to lose air during cold weather and temperature swings, so make sure they’re pumped up to the correct PSI tire pressure.
- Check all auto fluids: Your car depends on transmission fluid and power steering fluid, among others. If you don’t know how to check and refill these, ask your car maintenance shop to take a quick look.
Cover the Summer Car Maintenance Checklist
Nobody wants to get stuck with emergency car repairs during the summer, especially while out of town on vacation. All Around Auto Repair is your trusted source for car maintenance in Windsor, CA. We provide the services you need to keep your car running well in summer and all year long.
Contact us to ask a question or schedule routine car maintenance in Sonoma County.
