Summer is one of the perfect seasons to go joyriding. Whether you’re on a solo road trip or vacationing with your loved ones, this summer activity is never out of date. But you can only enjoy such activity if your car is in its top condition.
Imagine how you’ll feel if your car breaks down in the middle of the road. Such car issues will be devastating if you don’t know how to fix them. So, before heading out of the driveway, you should do the following things to ensure that your car is ready for the summer:
- Properly Inflate Tires
Driving a car with superb exterior designs is one of the reasons to go for a long drive. If you want to upgrade more of your car’s exteriors, you can check what Exterior Accs have on offer. However, substance is more important than style when you’re on the road with your family. For example, your tires must have proper inflation. Especially during summer trips, you don’t want to change tires while on the road. Moreover, improper tire inflation can result in serious injuries or road accidents. Proper tire pressure can prevent damage to the tires from irregular or rapid wear.
That’s why even before summer comes, you should have regular checkups of the tire pressure. It’s because every month, your tire pressure loses one pound per square inch (PSI). The PSI level is vital for your car because it requires a minimum amount of air pressure in the tires for support.
However, it will help if you don’t put the PSI at its maximum because it could compromise your braking abilities or lead to faster wear. You should inflate your tires according to your automobile’s recommended pressure.
- Increase Performance Of Engine
Another thing you must not forget is to boost the performance of your engine. When you do so, you can drive your car faster and enjoy the ride. You can feel the wind blowing over your face without encountering engine problems. However, be careful not to compromise your manufacturer’s warranty.
That’s why you can do the following to boost your engine’s performance properly:
- Start with your ignition system. Replace it with platinum tip spark plugs, ignition wires, coils, and other top-quality high-performance ignition parts. If you have a precision ignition operation, then your car is assured of adequate power.
- Upgrade your throttle body to have more horsepower. However, you should check if a larger throttle body will suit your car. If not, it may adversely impact its power.
- Improve your car’s airflow using a velocity stack. With this, you can increase the horsepower of your vehicle because it decreases the induction’s turbulence.
- Don’t forget your torque. Optimum torque can help to handle the throttle smoothly. Choose the dual-plane manifold option so that your car can breathe at high rpm.
- Check The Coolant’s Quality And Quantity
You shouldn’t forget to check the quality and quantity of your coolant. Change it if it’s 20,000 miles or a year old. If you haven’t, then your car can overheat quickly or lose its system fluids.
Also known as antifreeze or heat transfer fluid, your engine coolant removes unnecessary heat from your engine. It’s made up of a 50/50 ratio of water and propylene or ethylene glycol. You must refer to read your engine’s manual to use the right coolant.
Especially during summers, it’s vital to ensure that your engine stays cool. Even when your car is moving and heating up as it uses energy, the coolant will prevent the water engine from overheating. Moreover, the coolant will keep the rubber or plastic parts from corroding and prevent the metal parts from rusting.
Water alone can’t make your engine cool because the summer heat can evaporate it. The engine’s heat will boil the water after some time.
You can make your cooling system work effectively by getting a coolant flush or change.
- Inspect Belts And Hoses
Most importantly, you should check the most integral part of your engine, the belts and the hoses. These parts should be in their best condition to avoid mechanical failure while on the road.
On the other hand, if the hose leaks or the belt snaps, expect that your car will suddenly stop working.
Check the belts for possible cracks, frays, and splits. You can do so by checking if there are signs of glazing at the top cover. When you have glazed belts, they’re more prone to premature wear from high heat.
Inspect the hoses because they’re vulnerable to damage due to much exposure to extreme heat, sludge, oil, and dirt. You should feel and touch the hose for inconsistencies and irregularities like brittle or mushy spots. These may be signs of damage.
If you keep the hoses and belts in the best working condition, your car will be safe while on the road.
Conclusion
Proper tire inflation helps you to avoid accidents as it supports your car. When you want to drive fast without worrying about your car’s warranty, you can boost your engine’s performance. Doing so will help you enjoy the summer rides even better. However, your engine may heat up if it’s working non-stop. To avoid such a situation, your coolant should be of the best quality. The quantity of the coolant should be adequate. Other parts that help keep your car cool are the belts and hoses. That’s why you should always check these parts before you go for a long summer ride. These are only a few of the things you need to check and change before you go out for summer trips. Take care of your car and it’ll not disappoint you on your next road trip.
