Heat is not just about the weather. It is a stress test for your car. And if in winter the equipment suffers from the cold, in summer – from overheating. Systems push to the maximum, parts age faster, and any little thing can lead to a serious problem. The Indy Auto Man Indianapolis used car dealer shares the top 7 mistakes drivers make in summer risking to be left on the side of the road with an open hood and an overheated engine.
1. Don’t change coolants for years
Coolant is like immunity for the engine. If the antifreeze is old, does not match the manufacturer’s recommendations, or is a mix of several liquids – the system can boil. And then – overheating, cavitation, a broken gasket, and expensive repairs. It is especially dangerous to mix different types of coolants. The radiator will not forgive.
2. Leaving the car in the sun
The body burns out, the varnish cracks, the plastic in the cabin deforms, and the temperature inside the car is comparable to an oven. Everything suffers — from multimedia to wiring. If you want to preserve the interior appearance and electronics — look for shade or at least use sun protection cover.
3. Turning on the air conditioner to maximum immediately after starting
It’s like starting the day with maximum load in the gym — bad for the heart. In a car, this heart is the compressor. If turned on abruptly, it can overheat, leak, or simply fail. It’s better to ventilate the interior first, then smoothly turn on the cooling.
4. Filling the tank until it clicks — and a little more
Overfueling is bad for your car as well as low-quality gas. In summer, fuel expands. If you fill it to the brim, gasoline can get into the vapor recovery system — the result is errors in the ECU, a smell in the cabin, and unplanned visits to the service. And it’s also unsafe.
5. Forgetting about the battery until the first frost
In summer, the battery wears out no less than in winter — especially in traffic jams, with the air conditioner on, music, and chargers working. At the same time, it looks alive. But it can run out of charge at any moment. Checking the battery in the summer is not paranoia, but reasonable care.
6. Overinflating tires to save money
In the heat, the pressure in the tire can easily increase by 15-20%. This is fraught with a tire blowout on the highway, especially at high speeds or with a heavy load in the trunk. And no fuel savings worth it. Regular monitoring is always better.
7. Do not service the air conditioner
If it works, it does not mean that it works well. Without cleaning and diagnostics, the evaporator becomes covered with dirt, the filter loses its efficiency, and a persistent basement aroma may appear in the cabin. Regular maintenance prolongs the life of the air conditioner and maintains comfort.
Summer is vacation time. But not for your car.
To prevent your vehicle from failing at the most inopportune moment, a couple of reasonable steps are enough: monitor the cooling, do not overheat the electronics, and carry out car diagnostics on time. And if you have any doubts, professional technicians, like those at Indy Auto Man service station, know what to do. They will do it quickly, professionally, and without unnecessary expenses.
