Summer Car Maintenance Tips

When the heat of summer arrives in Fredonia, you’ll need to adjust your car repairs to account for it. Everything from your engine and tires to your windshield and more can be affected by extreme temperatures, but if you prepare ahead of time, you can avoid issues like overheating. The service experts here at Basil Chevrolet Inc. have compiled a list of the best car maintenance tips for the summer below!

Top Summer Car Maintenance Tips

In addition to your regularly scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, etc., following our summer car maintenance checklist will help keep your car running smoothly, even on the hottest Jamestown days:

• Keeping your engine coolant topped off will help keep your engine from overheating. When your car is cooled completely, check its overflow reservoir to see where the coolant level is. If it needs a top-off, you can do so with a 50/50 mix of water and the type of coolant your vehicle requires—you should find this information in your owner’s manual.

• In addition to checking your coolant levels, you should also check your oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid levels. If any are low, you should top off, especially if you’re heading out for a long drive past Lakewood.

• Inspect your engine belts. If your new or pre-owned Chevy’s serpentine belt looks to be deteriorating, loose, cracked, or producing a squealing sound, it’s more than likely time for a replacement. High temperatures can accelerate wear on a serpentine belt, so you should inspect it more often during the summer.

• Check each of your tire’s inflation and fill them if necessary. Driving on under-inflated tires can cause them to overheat and blow out as it is, but when you’re driving on hot streets in Westfield, your tires may be even more susceptible. Keep them properly inflated, and you won’t find yourself stranded on the side of the road on a humid afternoon. 

• Inspect your air conditioning system. If you feel like your air conditioning is weaker than normal, you can start by replacing your cabin air filter. If this doesn’t help, you’ll likely need to schedule an appointment at a local service center to have a professional technician check the system for blockages or other issues.

• Summer in Dunkirk brings plenty of rain. Installing a new set of wiper blades will help you maintain good visibility, especially when you’re driving in a downpour. 

• Keep your windshield clean. It may seem trivial, but a dirty windshield can appear hazy on a hot day, reducing your visibility. While you’re at it, getting a full car wash is an essential summer car maintenance tip. Car washes will help keep things like bugs and pollen from sticking to and damaging your exterior paint.

Get Exemplary Summer Car Maintenance at Basil Chevrolet Inc.

Here at Basil Chevrolet Inc., we’re eager to provide you with even more car maintenance tips for the summer in person. Our team also offers Chevy Advantage perks like unlimited car washes, lifetime oil changes, and lifetime tire rotations, just to name a few! Reach out to us to schedule a service appointment for your Chevy car, truck, or SUV today!