Summer Car Maintenance

Ahh summer time…. The time for getaways & beach trips! You rely a lot on your car through the summer period, so keeping on top of maintenance is crucial to keep your summer plans on track.

Check Your Tyres

Before taking off on any long driving trip you should check to ensure your tyres are roadworthy. Ensuring the tread is no lower than 1.5mm (the minimum legal tread depth in Aus & NZ) . AAMI recommends changing your tyres once the tread depth is 3mm or lower.

Tyre pressure is vital for safety on the road. Check your tyre pressure in the morning when the tyres are cool. To find the right tyre pressure for your car, read the placard bolted to its door frame. It’s important to get the right figure, over or underinflation leads to uneven wear.

Top Off Engine Fluids

Seasonal weather shifts can often lead to low engine fluids as they tend to thin or even evaporate in warm temperatures. When summer comes around, you’ll want to top off your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant and windshield wiper fluid.

If you’re not confident checking these fluids and replacing as necessary, your nearest mechanic will be able to provide assistance.

Test The AC

Summer time = air conditioning. When the higher temperatures hit, you’ll want a working AC system in your car. If your car isn’t cooling down or you’re not getting cool air from your A/C unit, you may need to get it to your mechanic to diagnose your next steps.

Replace Windshield Wipers

Maintaining visibility is an essential requirement while you’re behind the wheel. Make sure you check your windshield wipers effectiveness before heading off on any long trips. On average, windshield wipers will last 6 months to 1 year.

Clean Your Car

We know that car washing is something that should be done year round. But in the summer, the stakes are a little higher. Ideally you want to be washing your car every 2 weeks in the summer. This prevents contaminants like bird mess, bugs and tree sap causing damage to the clear coat.

We recommend booking in a car detailer at the start of summer to discuss applying paint protection to your vehicles. This is especially useful if your car is outside for much of the day (either parked or driving), absorbing the harsh UV rays.

As for the interior of your car, you want to ensure you’re cleaning up any food drops or spills before the heat can melt them into those tiny crevices on your dash. If the unthinkable has already happened and you’re facing a melted lipstick stain or a half melted lollipop on your cars fabric, call one of the Jim’s Car Detailing professionals to provide you an interior detail.