Summer is the time for traveling. Whether you are taking the family away for a holiday to remember or want to enjoy the glorious weather with a day trip to the beach, your car can take a lot of hammering. Before hitting the road this summer, make sure that you make several simple checks in order to keep your family safe, make the drive easier and also save you money.
- Some may say that this an obvious check, but tires are often one of the most overlooked parts of a car. With only 1 out of 10 drivers regularly check the condition of their tires or if their tyre pressure is correct. Tyre pressure can change, especially with a change in temperature, and let’s face it, in the UK it can easily change 10 degrees in a day! A quick trip air stand at the petrol station when you’re filling the tank will leave you with piece of mind that your tyres are in a good condition before you start that long journey. And just in case anything does happen, make sure that you have a spare tyre in your boot, it’ll be a real life saver if anything was to happen.
- Mae sure that you change the oil. Oil is one of the vital organs of your car, keeping the engine running smoothly and efficiently. Make sure to park your car on a flat surface, open up the bonnet and check the oil levels with the dipstick. Make sure that you have plenty of oil in there, as if you’re heading out on a long journey, you want to ensure that the engine is kept cool.
- Checking your air filter is something that you may not have necessarily thought about, but over the winter months your car’s air filter can become clogged with salt and dirt. The only real way you know if it needs replacing is to take it out and give it a quick look over; if it is filthy it probably really does need changing. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your fuel efficiency and improve your fuel usage by as much as 10 percent.
- With the British summer notorious for rain, you really need to check that your wipers are up to scratch. It can go from a glorious summer day to a downpour in a matter of minutes, and when it does you need to be prepared. If your wipers are leaving visible streaks or take several passes to clear away light rain, they need to be replaced. Good visibility is vital for safe driving.
- Finally, check your brakes. After the harsh winter months, your car may have taken a beating from all of the different weather conditions. Your brakes are the single most important safety feature on your car, so make sure that you don’t put yourself or your family at risk this summer by riding around on worn down or faulty brakes. If you are finding that is taking longer to brake than it used to or your brakes is feeling soft when you are driving, you really need to get your brakes checked.
Before you head out on the road this summer, make sure that you are prepared and your car is in a tip top condition.
This article was written by Becky Nesbit with useful information from Green Automotive Components based on Aberford Road in Leeds. Becky works for Buffalo Web Design and specializes in copy for blogs and SEO optimisation.
