The weather at this time of the year is usually extremely hot, most especially when the first rain of the year is yet to fall. People tend to get quite cranky during this period, due to the heat and the dehydration that comes with it and to some extent it affects our health.
Imagine if we as humans go through these and more during this period, how much more our vehicles, whose engines are always heated up due to the series of activities it performs to keep it running. So it is quite important you pay attention to your vehicle during this period to avoid engine failure or overheating, although metals are great heat conductors they need cooling at constant intervals, hence the reason vehicles come with cooling systems.
This isn’t just limited to the engines alone, the interior of the vehicle can heat up to abnormal temperatures during hot weather, this is easily noticed when you leave your car parked in the sun for a while.
For Your Engine
Add Engine Coolant
Open your vehicle’s hood and locate the coolant reservoir to check the coolant level. Indicator lines on the reservoir shows the level of the coolant. If it is low, ensure you top it up and reattach the cap. Do not add a coolant when the engine is hot, wait for the engine to cool down before you do.
Ensure You Top up Your Vehicle Radiator Frequently
Your vehicle’s radiator should have adequate water in it at regular intervals during this period, you can’t leave anything to chance. The radiator is a major part of your vehicle’s cooling system. And like we stated earlier, you should also let your engine cool down a bit before opening the radiator or adding water into it.
Check the Radiator Belt
Do not attempt driving your car if the radiator belt is not working. Ensure you call your mechanic to replace it for you if it isn’t working.
For Your Vehicle’s Interior
Look For a Shade To Park
Try to find a shade to park your vehicle, a tree shade would be the best. Parking under a shade would help keep your car cool.
Use a Car sun shade
Vehicle Sun Shade are protective like shields that are attached to the windshield of a vehicle to help prevent the sun from reaching the interior and reduce the temperature inside it. Keeping a sun shade in the car is helpful because you can’t always guarantee that you’ll find a shaded or covered area to park in.
Get rid of hot air
When your windows are rolled up they trap hot air, and the glass serves as a conductor that helps heat up the enclosed space. Leave your windows open slightly so the air can escape. Make sure the opening is not large enough for someone to reach through. If you are skeptical about leaving your windows open slightly however, you can leave it rolled up, but when you get back to your vehicle, roll down the window for a few minutes so the hot air can escape before you start driving.
Use Your Car’s AC
Of course, I guess we do not have to tell anyone this, most especially during this hot weather. If your Ac is not working, keep your vehicle windows rolled down.