Help Your Car Keep Its Cool This Summer

Oh my word! Has it ever been H.O.T! While there is a cooling trend coming next week, it surely won’t last. It is Summer, after all. To help  your car keep its cool this summer, here are some things I have learned over the years.

Check the coolant.

Before you start out on a day trip during the Summer months, you should always check the coolant reservoir. If you don’t know where it is in your car, ask someone to help you find it. If it is low, add more coolant to bring it up to the full mark. 

Flushing the radiator will help your car keep its cool .

Next time you take your car to have the oil changed, ask them to flush the cooling system. They will clean out the radiator and add new coolant to help prevent your car from overheating. 

Check your battery.

If your battery is not performing at 100%, it can cause your car’s motor to work harder, and be a factor in overheating. Add water to the battery cells if needed. If the battery is more than two years old, have it checked by the mechanic when you get the car serviced. You may need to get a new battery. It will certainly help your car keep its cool this Summer.

If your car does overheat

So you’re driving along in your automobile, and you notice that the heat indicator has moved to the left of center, or the HOT light comes on. The first thing you should do is pull over to a safe spot, turn off the engine, and lift the hood. This will give the engine time to cool off. Don’t ever put coolant in a hot engine! Wait for the car to cool off. After a while, turn the ignition key until the dash lights come on, but don’t try to start the car. If the heat indicator shows that the car has cooled down, add coolant or water if necessary. Then, try to start the car. If it makes weird sounds, turn it off immediately and call your roadside assistance. 

If you can start the car with no weird noises, here is what you can do to help your car keep its cool until you can get it to a mechanic to have it checked out. First, turn on the heat. Yes, I know it is Summer, and you are hot enough already, but turning on the heat will save you hundreds of dollars by taking the hot air away from the engine so it stays cool. If the car overheats again, pull over and call a tow service.