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Preparing for summer

Home Motoring About my car Checks & services Preparing for summer

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Cooling system

Your cooling system should be serviced regulary. This normally requires that the coolant is flushed and replaced every 1-2 years.

• Check your vehicle handbook for the recommended intervals.
• Flush out the old coolant and refill with the coolant recommended by the manufacturer.
• Remember to never mix coolants as this can cause corrosion, which can lead to overheating and premature engine failure.
• Check all the hoses for softness and leaks.
• Check the radiator cap seal for deterioration and have a good look at all the cooling system connections and components for corrosion.
• One of the problems, especially with country driving, is that the radiator core gets blocked up with dead insects and debris.

Drive belts

• Check all drive belts for cracking and deterioration (for example fan, waterpump, power-steering, air-conditioning etc).

Battery

• Your battery should be checked for summer.
• Check water levels and top up with distilled water so that the water level is just above the plate and clean the terminals.
• Some batteries are sealed and can't be topped up.

Tyres

• Check your tyre pressures when cold, (ie travelled less than 3km) as under-inflation can cause excessive tyre wear and heavy steering.
• The manufacturers handbook can tell you the correct tyre pressure.
• You can add 4-5 psi (30-35kpa) to each tyre to improve fuel comsumption and handling.
• Examine the tyres for wear and deterioration of the sidewalls.
• Uneven wear indicates a steering alignment problem.

General

• Keep your car in a clean condition, especially the windows and lights.
• Glare from the sun can cause poor visibility, so use a good quality glass cleaner on the windows, both inside and out.
• Check wiper blades and replace if necessary as worn blades will smear the windscreen.
• Check the operation of all lights and clean the lenses.
• Use sunshades when parked to protect the interior of your car and minimise heat build up.Have the air-conditioner serviced and ready for hot weather.
• Air-conditioner components can deteriorate due to lack of use, especially rubber seals and o-rings.
• It's a good idea to run the air-conditioner once a week during the winter months to prevent seals drying out.
• Finally do all the normal fluid level checks, oil, transmission fluid, washer fluid, power steering, brake fluid and clutch fluid if applicable.