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top-10-summer-car-care-tips

<p>Temperatures across parts of the UK are currently soaring, with the Met Office reporting that June has already been 2 degrees warmer than the average over the last three decades.</p>

<p>What's more,&nbsp;forecasters say that&nbsp;the odds of a hotter than average summer&nbsp;for the next two months has more than doubled.</p>

<p>However, while that might be&nbsp;good news if you're planning a staycation, prolonged&nbsp;exposure to hot weather can damage your car. So, here's what to do to avoid a potentially costly breakdown.</p>


Top 10 summer car care tips

<p>Battery failure is the most common reason for car breakdowns. Excessive temperatures can shorten the life of your car battery if it's not properly sealed, because the electrolyte inside it can evaporate more quickly.</p>

<p>So check the fluid level in your car’s battery and top it up with distilled water if necessary.</p>

<p>Low-maintenance (sealed) batteries don’t have filler caps and don’t need topping up. It’s still worth checking the battery for corrosion and leakage of battery acid, though.</p>


1. Check the battery

<p>While your&nbsp;air-con may not seem vital when you’re whizzing along on the motorway with the air vents keeping you cool, if you try to go without it&nbsp;you’ll feel the heat once you hit the city.</p>

<p>Manufacturers recommend that air-con systems are regassed every two years, so if you own an older car the chances are a service is overdue. Don't forget to use the air-con regularly and throughout the year – the fluid in the system lubricates the washers and seals, and without regular use the gas can leak.</p>


2. Air conditioning

<p>Hot weather increases the air pressure in your tyres, putting more strain on any weak areas and upping the risk of a puncture. Overinflated tyres are likely to wear more quickly and are also more prone to blow outs.</p>

<p>So check your car’s tyre pressures regularly when the tyres are cold, and check the tyres for improper tread wear and other defects that could result in a puncture.</p>


3. Tyres

<p>You should check coolant levels and engine oil levels once a week, while brake, clutch and power steering fluid can be checked once a month. However, it’s always worth checking all of these before you set off on a long drive – and especially in hot weather, when fluids could evaporate more quickly.</p>

<p>Don't forget to top up the windscreen washer bottle with appropriate fluid (not washing up liquid, which might gunge up the washer jets) regularly.</p>


4. Check the fluids

<p>Unless you own an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/electric-cars">electric car</a>, chances are that there's&nbsp;at least one drivebelt in your car’s engine bay that drives the alternator, air-con compressor and water and steering pumps, and with temperatures rising this will be working harder than ever.</p>

<p>You should be able to see that the belt is in good working order with a quick visual inspection, and you can also check that the cooling fan is working properly by running the engine for five minutes when it’s already warm and listening for the fan kicking in.</p>


5. Belt up

<p>Check the condition of your car’s wipers to ensure they’ll clear the screens without leaving smeary marks if you need to use them. They should be replaced once a year;&nbsp;poorly maintained wipers can cause an MOT failure. In warmer weather the rubber on your wiper blades could perish faster than in colder months, so this is worth checking.</p>


6. Don't be a wipe out

<p>Removing dust and dead insects from your car’s windscreen will improve visibility, especially when the sun is close to the horizon, when dirt will diffuse the light. Cleaning the bodywork and protecting it with wax will protect it from the sun’s rays and from blemishes caused by bird droppings and insects – if your car's paint does become damaged, a respray could be a costly fix.</p>


7. Keep it clean

<p>If your car’s due its annual service and MOT around the same time you’re planning on using it for your summer holiday, get it checked over before you go, so there will be less chance of it not being ready before you depart. And likewise, with temperatures soaring, if you've been putting off getting your car serviced, now might be the time to do so.</p>


8. Due for a service?

<p>Don’t wait until your car breaks down to get recovery service membership – it’s cheaper and much less stressful to buy it in advance. Many breakdown providers including the RAC and AA are expecting an increased number of callouts to stranded motorists while the UK heatwave is here, so it pays to be protected.</p>


9. Get breakdown cover in advance

<p>Take some emergency supplies with you just in case you get stranded. Bottles of water, snacks, torches and a couple of phone chargers (in case the battery goes flat) are all worth stowing in the boot. It’s also worth taking your driving licence and insurance policy in case they’re needed.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/top-10-pre-holiday-car-checks/n1202"><strong>Read more: Top 10 pre-holiday car checks &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h2>


10. Stock up before you head off

<p>Hot weather can cause all sorts of damage to your car. Follow our simple checks to ensure you don’t end up stranded at the roadside this summer.</p><h3>1. Check the battery</h3><p>Battery failure is the most common reason for car breakdowns, and excessive temperatures can shorten the life of your car battery if it's not properly sealed because the electrolyte can evaporate more quickly.</p>

<p>So check the fluid level in your car’s battery and top up with distilled water if necessary.</p><p>Low-maintenance (sealed) batteries don’t have filler caps and don’t need topping up. It’s still worth checking the battery for corrosion and leakage of battery acid.</p><h3>2. Air conditioning</h3><p>While the air-con may not seem vital when you’re whizzing along on the motorway with the air vents keeping you cool, you’ll feel the heat once you hit the city.</p><p>Manufacturers recommend that air-con systems are regassed every two years, so if you own an older car the chances are a service is overdue. Don't forget to use the air-con regularly and throughout the year – the fluid in the system lubricates the washers and seals, and without regular use the gas can leak.</p>

<h3>3. Tyres under pressure</h3><p>Hot weather increases the air pressure in your tyres, putting more strain on any weak areas and upping the risk of a puncture. Overinflated tyres are likely to wear more quickly and are also more prone to blow outs.</p><p>So check your car’s tyre pressures regularly when the tyres are cold, and check the tyres for improper tread wear and other defects that could result in a puncture.</p><h3><strong>How reliable is your car? Tell us in the <a href="http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3549658/8d7a39eefcaa">What Car Reliability Survey 2017 and you could win £1000</a></strong></h3><p> </p>

<h3>4. Check the fluids</h3><p>You should check coolant levels and engine oil levels once a week, while brake, clutch and power steering fluid can be checked once a month, bit it’s always worth checking all of these before you set off on a long drive. Don't forget to top up the windscreen washer bottle with appropriate fluid (not washing up liquid, which may gunge up the washer jets) regularly.</p><h3>5. Belt up</h3><p>There's at least one drivebelt in your car’s engine bay that drives the alternator, air-con compressor and water and steering pumps. You should be able to check it visually; you can also check the cooling fan is working properly by running the engine for five minutes when it’s already warm and listening for the fan kicking in.</p><h3>6. Don’t be a wipe out</h3><p>Check the condition of your car’s wipers to ensure they’ll clear the screens without leaving smeary marks if you need to use them. They should be replaced once a year – poorly maintained wipers can cause an MOT failure.</p><p> </p>

<h3>7. Keep it clean</h3><p>Removing dust and dead insects from your car’s windscreen will improve visibility, especially when the sun is close to the horizon, when dirt will diffuse the light. Cleaning the bodywork and protecting it with wax will protect it from the sun’s rays and from blemishes caused by bird droppings and insects.</p>

<h3>8. Due for a service?</h3><p>If your car’s due its annual service and MOT around the same time you’re planning on using it for your summer holiday, get it checked over before you go so there will be less chance of a breakdown.</p><h3>9. Get covered in advance</h3><p> </p>

<p>Don’t wait until your car breaks down to get recovery service membership – it’s cheaper and much less stressful to buy it in advance.</p><h3>10. Stock up before you head off</h3><p>Take some emergency supplies with you just in case you get stranded. Bottles of water, snacks, torches and a couple of phone chargers (in case the battery goes flat) are all worth stowing in the boot. It’s also worth taking your driving licence and insurance policy in case they’re needed.</p><h3><strong>Read more - <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tag/latest">top 10 tips to save money on airport parking</a></strong></h3><h3><strong>Read more - <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/top-10-pre-holiday-car-checks/n1202">top 10 pre-holiday car checks</a></strong></h3><hr />

<p><strong>Got a motoring question? Our experts are standing by to help, just tweet us your question using <a href="https://twitter.com/whatcar">#askwhatcar</a></strong></p><p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

<p>Hot weather can cause all sorts of damage to your car. Follow our simple checks to ensure you don’t end up stranded at the roadside this summer.</p>

<h3>1. Check the battery</h3><p>Battery failure is the most common reason for car breakdowns, and excessive temperatures can shorten the life of your car battery if it's not properly sealed because the electrolyte can evaporate more quickly.</p><p>So check the fluid level in your car’s battery and top up with distilled water if necessary.</p><p>Low-maintenance (sealed) batteries don’t have filler caps and don’t need topping up. It’s still worth checking the battery for corrosion and leakage of battery acid.</p><h3>2. Air conditioning</h3><p>While the air-con may not seem vital when you’re whizzing along on the motorway with the air vents keeping you cool, you’ll feel the heat once you hit the city.</p><p>Manufacturers recommend that air-con systems are regassed every two years, so if you own an older car the chances are a service is overdue. Don't forget to use the air-con regularly and throughout the year – the fluid in the system lubricates the washers and seals, and without regular use the gas can leak.</p>

<h3>4. Check the fluids</h3><p>You should check coolant levels and engine oil levels once a week, while brake, clutch and power steering fluid can be checked once a month, bit it’s always worth checking all of these before you set off on a long drive. Don't forget to top up the windscreen washer bottle with appropriate fluid (not washing up liquid, which may gunge up the washer jets) regularly.</p><h3>5. Belt up</h3><p>There's at least one drivebelt in your car’s engine bay that drives the alternator, air-con compressor and water and steering pumps. You should be able to check it visually; you can also check the cooling fan is working properly by running the engine for five minutes when it’s already warm and listening for the fan kicking in.</p>

<h3>6. Don’t be a wipe out</h3><p>Check the condition of your car’s wipers to ensure they’ll clear the screens without leaving smeary marks if you need to use them. They should be replaced once a year – poorly maintained wipers can cause an MOT failure.</p><p> </p>

<h3>7. Keep it clean</h3><p>Removing dust and dead insects from your car’s windscreen will improve visibility, especially when the sun is close to the horizon, when dirt will diffuse the light. Cleaning the bodywork and protecting it with wax will protect it from the sun’s rays and from blemishes caused by bird droppings and insects.</p><h3>8. Due for a service?</h3><p>If your car’s due its annual service and MOT around the same time you’re planning on using it for your summer holiday, get it checked over before you go so there will be less chance of a breakdown.</p>

<h3>9. Get covered in advance</h3><p> </p>

Like Goldilocks, cars don't like extremes of temperature. So, with the UK experiencing a heatwave, we take a look at what you can do to minimise the chances of a breakdown

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Top 10 summer car care tips

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