Summer Maintenance Tips
Summertime travels are much better and safer when your vehicle is prepared for the additional driving conditions that summertime travels typically bring. That means hotter running engines and slightly differing requirements than when driving during the wintertime. With four seasons of travels causing often greatly differing driving conditions, the following summer maintenance tips will help to make your travels as trouble-free as possible.
Change Oil and Filters
If you run 10W30 during the wintertime, a switch to 10W40 during summertime can help to keep the engine running cooler during hot daytime highs. A new oil filter will help to ensure the best oil flow and maintain proper oil pressure.
While underneath the vehicle to change the oil and filter, it also helps to check the fuel filter and replace it if needed. A new fuel filter will ensure gasoline gets to the combustion chamber. When combined with a tune-up, your engine will operate at maximum efficiency.
Wiper Blades and Fluid
Lots of bugs on windshields adds up to a high potential for vision blockage. Instead of looking around bug guts, you need good wiper blades and fluid to clear your windscreen and restore full vision. And when the summertime rains open up, a good set of wiper blades is critical to ensure safe travels. That is especially true when driving at night and oncoming headlights could cause a glare that blinds the driver.
Coolant flush and fill
While doing a flush and fill, it often helps to install a thermostat that opens up at a lower temperature than one that you use during the wintertime. When the thermostat opens when the coolant temperature is about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than normal, it helps the coolant to maintain a cooler operating temperature. A cooler running engine during summertime heat helps the motor to last a lot longer than one that runs at a hotter temperature due to a hotter thermostat.
Serpentine Belt Check
We look for signs of cracking, dry rot or unusual damage that might cause the serpentine belt to fail. Our parts department has a full selection of factory OEM and aftermarket serpentine belts for any make or model vehicle. With a new one in place as needed, the summertime travels are less likely to end with a sudden breakdown and tow to a repair shop.
Brake System Check
If the pads are near their service limit, the rotors are warped or worn, or the fluid is bad, we can take care of it. We even can install a new master cylinder and replace all of the fluid to ensure your family vehicle has the best possible braking power for safe travels.
Battery and Charging System Check
Wheel and Tires Services
We balance and rotate the tires and wheels to provide a smooth ride and even out the wear and tear from your summer driving. If the alignment is off, either a two- or four-wheel alignment will restore it and enable your vehicle to travel in a naturally straight and much safer path.
Change Oil and Filters
A change of oil and oil filter is the first thing motorists should do to prepare their vehicles for summer. Because the outdoor temperature is hotter during summertime travels, a lot of motorists and their mechanics like to use a heavier grade of motor oil.
If you run 10W30 during the wintertime, a switch to 10W40 during summertime can help to keep the engine running cooler during hot daytime highs. A new oil filter will help to ensure the best oil flow and maintain proper oil pressure.
While underneath the vehicle to change the oil and filter, it also helps to check the fuel filter and replace it if needed. A new fuel filter will ensure gasoline gets to the combustion chamber. When combined with a tune-up, your engine will operate at maximum efficiency.
Wiper Blades and Fluid
Summer travels in Pennsylvania mean bugs will fly toward your headlights. That is especially true with most current-production vehicles using daytime running lights. Lots of flying insects use the sun to navigate, and those bright headlights attract them. That means you will get lots of bugs on your windshield.
Lots of bugs on windshields adds up to a high potential for vision blockage. Instead of looking around bug guts, you need good wiper blades and fluid to clear your windscreen and restore full vision. And when the summertime rains open up, a good set of wiper blades is critical to ensure safe travels. That is especially true when driving at night and oncoming headlights could cause a glare that blinds the driver.
Coolant flush and fill
It always is a great idea to check the coolant to ensure it can protect against overheating. If the coolant is getting old and losing its ability to maintain correct engine operating temperatures, a flush and fill will take care of the problem. Our technicians also can check the hoses for signs of dry rot, cracking or hardening that indicate one or more hoses need replacing to prevent coolant leaks.
While doing a flush and fill, it often helps to install a thermostat that opens up at a lower temperature than one that you use during the wintertime. When the thermostat opens when the coolant temperature is about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than normal, it helps the coolant to maintain a cooler operating temperature. A cooler running engine during summertime heat helps the motor to last a lot longer than one that runs at a hotter temperature due to a hotter thermostat.
Serpentine Belt Check
While under the hood, our technicians can check the serpentine belt to ensure it is in good condition. The serpentine belt makes it possible for the alternator to produce the power needed to charge the battery and run the lights and electrical system while driving. It also enables the AC compressor to work and deliver cold air on hot days.
We look for signs of cracking, dry rot or unusual damage that might cause the serpentine belt to fail. Our parts department has a full selection of factory OEM and aftermarket serpentine belts for any make or model vehicle. With a new one in place as needed, the summertime travels are less likely to end with a sudden breakdown and tow to a repair shop.
Brake System Check
Winter and spring travels can exact a toll on any vehicle’s brakes. Before heading out on a long summertime road trip in the family vehicle, a brake system check ensures all is well. We make sure the brake fluid is clean, the calipers grip properly and the rotors and brake pads are in good condition.
If the pads are near their service limit, the rotors are warped or worn, or the fluid is bad, we can take care of it. We even can install a new master cylinder and replace all of the fluid to ensure your family vehicle has the best possible braking power for safe travels.
Battery and Charging System Check
While wintertime lows are notorious killers of older batteries, so are summertime highs that can reach 100 degrees and higher. A 25-degree rise in outdoor temperature doubles the discharge rate of a car battery. So when it gets really hot outside, your car’s battery and charging system are working even harder to maintain power.
Wheel and Tires Services
Lots of Pennsylvania car owners swap out their all-season radials for snow tires during the winter. The summer maintenance includes ensuring your vehicles has four good all-season radials for the summertime travel.
We balance and rotate the tires and wheels to provide a smooth ride and even out the wear and tear from your summer driving. If the alignment is off, either a two- or four-wheel alignment will restore it and enable your vehicle to travel in a naturally straight and much safer path.