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Summer is officially just around the corner and there are a few things motorists should consider in advance other than changing their wardrobe and planning a vacation. Preparing your vehicle for safe summer driving can be equated to things we do as humans.
Shoes: You don't wear big, heavy insulated boots in summer, you change to lighter footwear. In the same vein, tires designed for winter do not provide the same degree of safety in summer. The chemical and physical makeup of a winter tire is designed to cope with cold, ambient temperatures and slippery surfaces. These tires will wear quickly in warm conditions and provide much less grip on hot summer pavement. They will also result in greater fuel consumption so keeping them on to avoid buying or changing to summer or all-season tires is a mistake. If you are in the habit - a good one - of changing over to winter tires, consider switching from the all-season tires that probably came with your vehicle to summer tires. All-season tires are, by their very nature, a compromise, designed to cope with a wide variety of temperatures and conditions. Summer tires are formulated to deal with heat and as such provide superior grip and safety.
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Stay hydrated: We drink more fluids in warm weather to replace those lost through sweating and the body's natural way of coping with high temperature. Summer places an additional strain on the various parts of your vehicle dependent on fluids. The most obvious fluid is the lubricating oil that protects the engine. Make sure it has been changed according to the manufacturer's instruction and is topped up. Steering and braking systems use special hydraulic fluids in a sealed system so they only need to be checked at the time of a service call. But the coolant, belts, pumps and thermostat that keep your engine temperature within a safe operating range are all worthy of more frequent checks - especially in summer. This same coolant provides lubrication and is used by the heater so a leak can be doubly problematic. That all-important air conditioning system also uses a fluid and should be checked by a professional at the start of the season. While broken cooling system belts or hoses are the most common cause of breakdown, the most expensive problem is an overheated transmission. Almost exclusively caused by towing, overheated transmission fluid leads to transmission failure. Folks who tow regularly know this and take the necessary precautions - extra coolers and heavy-duty components designed for towing. But that one-time trip to the cottage with a boat or other plaything on the trailer and a full load of people and stuff inside can overload and/or damage a transmission. Read and heed the weight allowance in the owner's manual.
Sunscreen: You are likely in the habit of using sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. While your vehicle will never get cancer, it can and will be harmed by the sun, enough to cost you money at trade-in time. All of today's vehicles have a clear coat of paint applied atop the colour coat(s). The principal purpose of this extra layer is to protect the paint from environmental fallout - nasty chemicals in the air. But it also provides relief from the fading caused by the sun's rays. A faded or slightly damaged clear coat can be buffed by a professional to restore that new car look. But it can also be protected by a coat of wax, which serves a secondary purpose - a nice shine. But beware. Running your vehicle through a commercial car wash or using dish or laundry detergent when washing it will remove that coat of wax. While paint is the obvious visual part of an automobile, the areas most likely to be damaged by the sun are the top of the dash and the rear parcel shelf, anywhere exposed to direct sunlight, not only when on the road, but while parked. Parking in the shade will not only result in a cooler vehicle but also protect those plastic surfaces. An occasional wipe with a non-glossy protectant can also help.
Clothes: We shed clothes in summer. No extra layers, coats, etc. While you can't strip your vehicle, you can take off that ski-rack or car-topper that creates gas-guzzling drag and you can empty out the trunk. Every kilo saved means less fuel is burned.