Summer brings its own challenges for your vehicle - from overheating engines to tyre pressure fluctuations. Proper summer maintenance ensures reliable performance, prevents breakdowns, and prepares your car for holiday road trips.
Why Summer Maintenance Matters
While winter gets more attention for vehicle preparation, summer heat can be equally demanding on your car. High temperatures stress cooling systems, accelerate fluid degradation, and increase tyre pressure. Additionally, summer often means longer journeys for holidays, making reliability crucial.
1. Cooling System Check
Your engine's cooling system works hardest in summer. Overheating is one of the most common summer breakdowns and can cause serious engine damage.
What to Check:
- Coolant level: Check when engine is cold. Top up if below minimum mark
- Coolant condition: Should be bright colored (usually pink, green, or orange). If brown or rusty, needs replacing
- Coolant concentration: Should be 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. Yes, antifreeze is needed in summer too - it raises boiling point
- Hoses and connections: Check for cracks, bulges, or leaks
- Radiator: Clean debris from radiator fins. Check for leaks
- Radiator cap: Should seal properly and maintain pressure
If Your Engine Overheats
- Turn on heater to full hot (draws heat from engine)
- Pull over safely and turn off engine
- Wait at least 30 minutes before opening bonnet
- Never open radiator cap when hot - can cause severe burns
- Check coolant level when cool and top up if needed
- If problem persists, call for recovery
2. Air Conditioning Service
Air conditioning isn't just about comfort - it's essential for safe driving in hot weather by preventing driver fatigue and maintaining clear windows.
Signs Your AC Needs Service:
- Not blowing cold air
- Unusual smells when AC is on
- Weak airflow
- Strange noises when AC operates
- Windows fogging up when AC is running
AC systems lose refrigerant naturally over time. We recommend servicing every 2 years to maintain efficiency and prevent expensive compressor failure.
3. Tyre Care in Summer
Hot weather affects tyres significantly. Heat increases tyre pressure and accelerates wear, while long summer journeys put extra stress on tyres.
Summer Tyre Maintenance:
- Check pressure weekly: Heat increases pressure - check when tyres are cold
- Inspect tread depth: Minimum 1.6mm legal, but 3mm recommended for safety
- Look for damage: Check for cuts, bulges, or embedded objects
- Check for uneven wear: May indicate alignment or suspension issues
- Rotate tyres: Every 6,000-8,000 miles for even wear
- Before long journeys: Increase pressure slightly as recommended in handbook for fully loaded vehicle
Visit IQ Tyres for a free tyre check before your summer holiday.
4. Battery Maintenance
Contrary to popular belief, batteries fail more often in summer than winter. Heat accelerates chemical reactions inside the battery, shortening its life.
Summer Battery Care:
- Have battery tested if over 3 years old
- Check terminals are clean and tight
- Ensure battery is securely mounted
- If battery has removable caps, check fluid level (distilled water only)
- Park in shade when possible to reduce heat exposure
5. Engine Oil and Filters
Oil degrades faster in hot weather. Fresh oil ensures proper lubrication and cooling of engine components.
What to Check:
- Oil level: Check weekly. Top up if below minimum mark
- Oil condition: Should be golden to light brown. If black and gritty, needs changing
- Service schedule: Don't exceed service intervals, especially before long trips
- Oil filter: Replace with every oil change
- Air filter: Check and replace if dirty - improves performance and fuel economy
6. Brake System
Summer often means more driving, putting extra demand on brakes. Ensure they're in good condition before holiday season.
Brake Checks:
- Brake fluid level should be between min and max marks
- Brake pads should have at least 3mm material remaining
- Brakes should feel firm, not spongy
- No grinding, squealing, or unusual noises
- Vehicle should brake in straight line without pulling
If you notice any brake issues, book a brake inspection immediately.
7. Lights and Visibility
Longer days mean less reliance on lights, but they're still essential for being seen and for summer evening driving.
Visibility Maintenance:
- Check all lights work - replace any failed bulbs
- Clean all lights - summer dust and insects reduce effectiveness
- Replace worn wiper blades - summer storms can be intense
- Keep screenwash topped up - you'll use more removing insects
- Clean inside of windscreen - sun highlights smears and reduces visibility
8. Exterior Care
Summer sun, tree sap, bird droppings, and insects can damage paintwork if left untreated.
Paint Protection:
- Wash regularly to remove contaminants
- Remove bird droppings immediately - acidic and can etch paint
- Remove tree sap promptly - hardens in sun and damages clear coat
- Apply wax or sealant for UV protection
- Park in shade when possible to protect paint and interior
- Clean alloy wheels regularly - brake dust is corrosive
For professional paint protection and correction, see our paint services.
9. Interior Care
Summer heat can damage interior components and make driving uncomfortable.
Interior Protection:
- Use sunshades to protect dashboard from UV damage
- Treat leather with conditioner to prevent cracking
- Vacuum regularly to remove abrasive dirt
- Clean and treat plastic trim to prevent fading
- Never leave children or pets in parked car - temperatures rise dangerously fast
- Remove unnecessary items - extra weight reduces fuel economy
Pre-Holiday Road Trip Checklist
Before setting off on a long summer journey, complete this checklist:
One Week Before
- ✓ Book full vehicle service if due
- ✓ Check tyre tread and condition
- ✓ Test air conditioning
- ✓ Check all lights work
- ✓ Inspect wiper blades
- ✓ Verify insurance and breakdown cover
Day Before Travel
- ✓ Check all fluid levels
- ✓ Adjust tyre pressures for load
- ✓ Fill fuel tank
- ✓ Clean all windows
- ✓ Pack emergency kit
- ✓ Plan route and check traffic
Summer Driving Tips
Adjust your driving for summer conditions:
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration affects concentration. Keep water in car
- Use AC wisely: Recirculate air for faster cooling, but open windows briefly to refresh air
- Avoid peak heat: Travel early morning or evening when possible
- Take breaks: Stop every 2 hours on long journeys
- Watch for motorcycles: More on roads in summer
- Be aware of cyclists: More active in good weather
- Adjust for sun glare: Keep sunglasses handy and use sun visors
Emergency Kit for Summer
Keep these items in your vehicle during summer:
- Water (for drinking and emergency coolant top-up)
- Sunscreen and hat
- First aid kit
- Torch
- High-visibility vest
- Warning triangle
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Snacks
- Spare screenwash
- Jump leads
Common Summer Problems
Overheating
Most common summer issue. Check coolant level, ensure radiator fan works, and don't ignore temperature gauge warnings
Tyre Blowouts
Heat and under-inflation cause blowouts. Check pressure regularly and inspect for damage
AC Failure
Often due to low refrigerant or compressor failure. Have AC serviced before summer
Battery Failure
Heat accelerates battery degradation. Test battery if over 3 years old
Summer Vehicle Check at IQ Tyres
Prepare your vehicle for summer with our comprehensive summer check service. We'll inspect all critical systems including cooling, tyres, brakes, air conditioning, and fluids to ensure you're ready for reliable summer driving and worry-free holidays.
Conclusion
Summer car care is about prevention - addressing potential issues before they become problems. With proper maintenance and preparation, your vehicle will provide reliable, comfortable transportation throughout summer, whether for daily commutes or long holiday road trips. Don't wait for problems to appear - schedule your summer vehicle check today and enjoy worry-free summer driving.