Four days into the official start of summer and the weather is already heating up in Indianapolis, and it’s only going get hotter.
Plans for 4th of July celebrations and a long weekend are underway. Don’t let the fun you’re planning be ruined because of a car issue. Before heading off to celebrate, make sure your car is ready. Here’s a few must-do’s to help prepare your car:
Check cooling system and fluid levels. During hotter months, your vehicle’s cooling system has to work harder to prevent engine overheating.
Heat increases air pressure in tires. Grab a tire gauge and check tire air pressure to see if they need air or are overinflated. Refer to your owner’s manual or the label inside the driver’s door for proper tire inflation levels.
Check engine exhaust and recirculation systems. A dirty air filter can make the engine work much harder causing drivability problems. In high heat and humidity, vehicles are prone to problems with exhaust gas recirculation, which sends a portion of the exhaust back through the engine to help reduce emissions.
Keep gas tank more than a quarter full. When your car goes below a quarter of a tank of gas, the fuel pump is no longer completely submerged in fuel and this can cause the creation of unnecessary heat because your fuel acts as a coolant.
Know how to change a flat. It’s important to be ready for anything when you hit the road. Another option is run-flat tires, which let you go up to 50 miles at 50 miles per hour on a flat.
