Temperatures can suddenly soar in the summer. This is great news if you’re heading to the beach but it might not be such good news for your car. High temperatures can damage certain parts of your car. Plus, it’s not much fun driving in a hot car.
In this post we’ll share some tips for keeping your car cool in the summer, along with some essential summer car maintenance you should consider.
How to Keep Your Car Cool in the Summer
- Park in the shade. If you can keep your car out of direct sunlight, you can help keep it cool inside and out on even the hottest of days. This goes for parking at home too.
- Get window shades for your car. It’s not always possible to park in the shade. So instead, you could get a reflective shade for your windshield to keep the heat out of your car while you’re parked. You can also get shades for your rear passenger windows, which can help regulate heat by blocking out the sun while allowing for airflow. Whatever you do though, make sure you don’t obstruct your visibility of the road.
How to Keep Yourself Cool when Driving in the Summer
- Take care with what you wear. Wear light clothing when you’re driving in the summer, avoiding heavy materials like denim or corduroy. Also pay attention to your footwear. It’s not illegal to drive barefoot or in flip-flops, but this can make it a bit difficult to operate your pedals. So instead, consider wearing pumps, breathable trainers, or slip-ons.
- Plan your journeys carefully. If you’re planning a long journey, try and travel in the early morning or the evening, so as to avoid the hottest part of the day. You could also plan your journey so as to avoid traffic jams.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Keep a few bottles in a cool bag in your car, so you’ll have access to chilled water in the event of a breakdown.
- Take care with your medication. If you take hayfever tablets, make sure they don’t have any side effects that could make it dangerous to drive.
Read our full guide to safe driving during heatwaves.
Essential Car Maintenance For the Summer
- Check your levels. Keeping your oil and coolant levels topped up can help you avoid breakdowns in hot weather. Check your oil level and top it up if it’s too low. Also make sure that your coolant is between the “min” and “max” levels.
- Check your tyres. Tyre rubber can degrade in high temperatures, which means that even the slightest bit of wear and tear could lead to a blowout. So check your tyres for any damage, and replace or repair any that look worse for wear.
- Protect your battery. Car batteries run on liquid, which can evaporate in the heat. This is one reason why it’s important to keep your car out of direct sunlight wherever possible. Read our full guide to what to do if your car won’t start on a hot day.
What Are The Quickest Ways to Cool Down Your Car?
If you want to quickly cool your car down, should you open your windows, or rely on the air conditioning? The answer: Both!
Once you start your car, switch the air conditioning to its coldest setting, but also open your windows. Keep them open for a minute or two, which will allow all the hot air in your car to escape. Then close your windows to allow the cool air to circulate.
Are you having issues with your car air conditioning? Read our guide to common aircon problems.
Get The Cover You Need This Summer With Go Girl
If the hot weather causes your car to breakdown, it’s important to get help as soon as you can. Getting stranded when the weather’s hot can be an unpleasant experience, especially if you haven’t got much water to drink.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to consider adding breakdown cover to your car insurance. Get in touch to get a quote with added breakdown cover for your car insurance in a matter of minutes.
