Tips to Ensure Car Health in Summer

The Advent of Summer in the UAE and GCC nations is nothing short of pandemonium for cars plying on the roads, incessantly battling the challenging weather conditions, comprising sultry winds, complemented by swirling dust storms, making it increasingly difficult for vehicles to move ahead while maintaining an ambient temperature inside the cabin. As the impending season makes its presence felt yet again, here are some tips to ensure your car’s health.

KEEP WINDOWS PARTLY ROLLED DOWN

While some follow the practice of rolling down their car windows once seated in them, many almost overlook the significance of keeping the windows rolled down after exiting the vehicle. Ensuring this practice will not only detoxify the cabin, but also ensure natural air ventilation and reduce excessive pressure so that the interior doesn’t get too warm. Moreover, if cars are left with windows fully rolled up in heat for long durations, there is a risk of abrasion for interior materials and plastic objects exploding, causing severe damage to interior plastics, leather and other trim. 

ENSURE THAT THE AC GAS IS TOPPED UP

We are denizens of a region where Air conditioners at all places are indispensable. Hence, make sure that your vehicle, old or new has its AC gas topped up for efficient cooling inside the interior cavity. Doing this will ensure that the car is cooled sans having to switch to high-speed for the fan. Better fuel efficiency is also an added dole. If filling up the gas doesn’t solve the issue, it is plausible that the Compressor has become defunct with continuous use over time. Hence, it would be advisable to get it repaired or replaced, under extreme scenarios. 

PARK THE CAR IN THE SHADE

It can be argued that shaded parking spaces might not be always available. However, if there is a probability of finding a shaded area reserved for parking vehicles, use it even if it requires some walking as the car, if parked directly under the sun for prolonged durations, it might attract hazardous substances blended in the air. When the AC is switched on and that air is breathed, those substances can harm the lungs. Moreover, if the car is shrouded with a canopy or some kind of roof, it preserves its paint quality too. This can help in keeping the car newer and fresher with time. 

AVOID STOWING PLASTIC OBJECTS INSIDE THE CAR

Plastic objects tend to emit poisonous and carcinogenic elements when exposed to direct sunlight and heat. It’s a common practice to stow plastic water bottles and sanitisers to keep oneself hydrated and pathogens-free. However, plastic bottles can be replaced with steel or copper ones and sanitiser bottles made of other materials can be purchased instead. 

TOP UP THE ENGINE COOLANT

Rising temperature can have a compounding impact on the engine as it can add to the heat. Make a regular practice of reading the symbols appearing on the instrument binnacle. The moment, the engine coolant light appears, immediately top-up the coolant and as a precaution, ensure that the radiator pipe hasn’t been ruptured. Tire bursts and pipe ruptures are common during summer as these materials tend to expand because of heat. Other common signs of engine over-heating are the engine cooling fan running continuously to compensate for lack of coolant fluid and the cabin getting warm even on short spins. 

REFRAIN FROM KEEPING ELECTRONIC DEVICES INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR TOO LONG

Routine office commutes require many to carry their laptops, tablets and other electronic devices. However, during summer, abstain from taking too many gadgets, if these are likely to be left over in the car. Temperature and climate have a bearing on electronic gismos. Sensitive components such as batteries and chips can get damaged and may not function as per their standard. It’s not without a reason why many electric cars are catching fire on being exposed to excessive heat for long durations. 

Devices that are going to be of prime use on a regular basis should be kept in a ‘cool and dry place,’ as recommended on their packing as their absence can lead to a lot of pummeling. 

CAREFULLY TEST-DRIVE THE NEW/USED CAR

If you’re looking forward to buy a new car in Dubai or buying a used car in Dubai, in both cases, it would be ideal to conduct a comprehensive test-drive of the vehicle as it will reveal if there are any faults with the AC system, engine overheating or leaks for the coolant hose. If a new car is suffering from cooling and engine heating issues, it is best to avoid it as this is an obscure mark on its longevity and reliability. However, if a used car is facing similar issues, ask the dealer or seller to get it fixed for a hassle-free ownership experience. 

Hard cornering will reveal clandestine information about the tires. Worn out rubber can cause tire blasts. Hence, new set of rubber should replace the outdated one as soon as possible.   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Which cars provide the best cooling during summer?

A: While most manufacturers are paying special heed to the car’s cooling and AC system, Japanese brands have proven to be stalwart in designing extremely efficient AC systems. Cars such as the Toyota Camry and Nissan Patrol are known to offer great cooling in minutes.