Pakistani summers range from hot to excruciatingly hot. The season lasts for nine out of twelve months of the year, making life difficult for many and not just for humans. Heat takes its toll on automobiles too and therefore it is imperative that responsible drivers take precautionary measures during this month for themselves and their vehicles.
For the safety and knowledge of our readers and maintaining better health of their automobiles, we have summarized some essential summers tips that you should be aware of during this unforgivable season.
Roll down your windows
During hot weather, while parking your car, you should roll down your window just a tiny bit for ventilation. This will help in letting out hot air that accumulates in the cabin, along with gases which are harmful to your health. The synthetic fibers used in the cars are proven to produce harmful gases when exposed to high summer temperatures.
Avoid keeping Aerosols in your car
Avoid keeping Pressure sprays and perfumes in your car. Hot temperature can build pressure in the bottle, resulting in its explosion, which can harm the occupants of the car.
Wash your car’s radiator
It is advisable to wash your car’s radiator as there is a high probability of it accumulating rust and thereby getting clogged. This, in turn, will decrease the cooling efficiency of your car. For proper circulation of liquid and keeping the car’s temperature to an optimum level, the performance of the radiator should be ensured and although it may sound that this tip is more related to older cars but in reality, new cars, too, may get rusty radiators for a variety of reasons.
Use coolant instead of water
To ensure the efficient operation of the radiator use coolant instead of water. This is especially advised if you own an old car. There are two types of coolants – one which is premixed and the other which is concentrated. The one you should be using is the premixed one since it already has the best ratio of distilled water mixed in it.
User better quality fuel
If you are using a poor quality fuel or a lower grade fuel, then it is making your car struggle more than usual. The temperature will rise even quicker than it would under normal conditions.
Check the Thermostat
Check thermostat valve if it is showing abrupt changes. This is important since thermostat governs the coolant passing through the radiator.
Check the AC gas
Air conditioners may have been considered a luxury a decade or two ago, but now they come as a standard feature in most cars. You will be using them more than your’s car’s horn. So make sure that the AC gas is at the optimum level, otherwise, the AC will not be able to properly cool the cabin.
Protect your car from direct Sunlight
Buy car’s top cover so that you can save your car from direct sunlight which is not only bad for the paint but also raises the temperature of the cabin.
Park your car under a shade
When parking, find a place with shade. Instead of parking your car at a first available parking slot, you should take your time in finding the right, shady place to park.
Plan your trips beforehand
Plan your trips to avoid rush hours and soul-crushing traffic. Cut down on commute time during the daytime to avoid exposure to sunlight.
The right time to wash your car
Wash your car during evening/night, not during the day. The reason for this is while you are washing your car in sunlight, it is getting dried up without you having the chance of wiping it with a clean cloth. This leaves water residues on the paint.
A precautionary measure in case of overheating
Check temperature gauge while driving. If the car overheats do not open the radiator. If need be, open when the car is running, not stopped. Use a wet towel when opening the cap, it will absorb the steam coming out and protect your hand.
Change your Tyres if necessary
If your car has old and worn out tyres then change them especially for a long journey. They may burst especially if they are soft compound tyres as soft compound tyres wear out quicker than hard compound tires. So, as an essential precautionary measure check your tyres especially during summers.
Monitor Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure. It shouldn’t be kept high in summers as the high temperature can cause the air to expand which subsequently increases the tyre pressure. Keep it low to leave some room for the air to expand. Low pressure is also bad as it increases the traction unnecessarily which in turn increases the temperature quickly.
To sum it up, AC is a must during summer, however, you must avoid turning on the AC right after getting in the car. If your car doesn’t have AC, then make sure that the cabin is properly ventilated. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight and plan your trips accordingly.
