Everyone gets excited over those summer-time trips. Nothing can ruin a fun-filled trek to the beach like breaking down on the freeway with your family and pets in the car and no air conditioning to keep them cool while you wait, for what seems an eternity, for the tow truck to arrive.
Before you venture too far from home, there are a handful of general maintenance items to complete on your car.
Your cooling system is probably the most important as the summer heat begins to take hold. A breakdown in the cooling process can be expensive to repair and may even lead to you car's engine seizing.
Of course, a mechanic can do all this for you. Here are some items that need to be checked and/or completed:
• Flush the radiator. When you replace your engine's coolant double check you are using the correct kind of coolant. Using the green stuff when the manufacturer says to use the orange, will end up costing you thousands to replace your entire cooling system.
• Check for leaks on your radiator, including near the cap. Check hoses and areas where there are clamps for leakage.
• Inspect all your coolant hoses. If they are cracking and looking generally unhealthy, it's better to replace them now rather than trying to do it on a roadside while steam billows from under the hood.
• Give your battery a good once over. Most corrosion occurs during the winter months. If you see significant corrosion buildup your wires may need to be replaced. Small amounts can easily be cleaned off with a wire brush and a bottle of Coke (there's a million and one home remedies floating around out there to clean corrosion). Please, always remember to disconnect the battery before attempting to clean any part of it.
• Check your tires. Under inflated tires can cost you some in gas mileage, while over inflated tires can be a serious safety hazard. Many tire retailers will check and properly inflate your tires as a And friendly service.
• Top of fluids. Before going to any adventure, you should check to ensure that all fluids in your car, and they are appropriate on one level.
Provides you and your family a lot of time and money and margins, and if you have a little difficulty, and check out some of the points before your next summer, the President of the adventure. Buckle up and drive safely!