Looking After Your Car In A Heatwave

1. Fluids
Maintaining your fluids is vital at any point in the year, but during a heatwave, you'll want to pay particular attention to your engine coolant. Coolant has the job of preventing corrosion damage inside your engine, and if it's too low, it can overheat your engine. To check your coolant level, let your engine cool down after driving and consult your manual to locate the bottle. The level should be in between the two marks on the bottle. You should also check your oil levels, transmission fluid, brake fluid and wiper fluid.

2. Belts & Hoses
Your internal belts and hoses are important to the overall function of your car, with belts kick-starting the alternator and hoses carrying gas, air and brake fluid. During a spell of extreme heat, the hose and belts can crack, causing them to break down. So, if there's due to be a long spell of hot weather, it's worth having a professional take a look at them to ensure they're in good shape.

3. Battery

If your car's battery is older, the intense heat can put even more strain on it. To avoid costly repairs, get it tested or even replaced - a new battery will cost you less than an emergency call-out if you break down.



4. Tyre Pressure

Tyres expand when they are exposed to heat, so get them checked regularly, ideally each time you stop at a fuel garage. Having tyres at the correct pressure will ensure you don't suffer any issues in the heat. To find out the right pressure, refer to your owner manual. You can then check the levels by purchasing a pressure gauge from any car accessory shop. Once you've done this, remove the valve cap from one tyre and insert the gauge until the hissing sound stops, and the gauge will give you a reading. If they're under pressure, you can add air to them at your local garage. If they're over pressure, let air out using the metal pin inside the valve stem.



5. Interior

Making sure your car is actually cool enough to drive in is incredibly important. If it's 20 degrees outside, that often means that inside your car, it can be up to 40 degrees, which makes for an uncomfort...