When the hot weather arrives it's important to prepare your car (and yourself!) for higher temperatures.
We’ve put together some quick car checks to help you prevent a breakdown and make sure you're prepared for road trips.
Quick car checks to avoid a breakdown
Here are some quick checks to prepare your car for the hot weather:
1. Tyres
Let’s start with the most obvious. Make sure your tyres are pumped up.
If you’re going on holiday, and you’ve got extra luggage and passengers in the car, you might need to put some extra air in your tyres.
You’ll find a chart in your car showing different tyre pressures for various scenarios. You can usually find this in your fuel filler cap, on the door sill or in the user manual.
One picture will have three people on it with a tyre pressure, and one will have more people plus bags. It’s best to inflate your tyres to the number displayed next to the second image as it’ll stop your tyres from overhearing, and it’ll improve your fuel economy.
Remember, look after your car’s tyres and they’ll look after you.
2. Battery
Battery trouble is a leading cause of car breakdowns and extreme temperatures can affect the battery cell, making it more susceptible to overheating.
Your local garage will be able to test your battery, or you can buy a battery tester yourself. Car batteries typically last about five years, so it’s good to stay on top of it.
3. Coolant
In higher temperatures, it’s much more likely that your car will overheat, as there’s less moving air to cool down your car engine. So, before you set off, make sure your vehicle has enough coolant in the bottle.
4. Oil
When temperatures rise, oil can thin. If it gets too thin, your engine can fail because it makes it harder for the gloopy substance to lubricate heavy-duty mechanical components like the crankshaft and camshafts. Check your oil level by pulling out the dipstick, giving it a wipe and putting it back in. When you pull it out again, the oil level needs to be between the minimum and maximum lines.
Keep essentials in the car
1. Water
Having a breakdown kit in the car is always a good idea. At the very least, never set off without a bottle of water. If you're stranded by the roadside in the blistering heat, you'll be grateful for a drink. It could also be used to top up coolant in an emergency.
2. Phone charger
Why do we always run out of juice at the worst times? Keep a charger in the car so if you do break down, you can stay in contact with your recovery driver and let people know you’ve broken down.
3. Credit cards
Especially when travelling abroad, you'll need to pay for things by card, such as hire car deposits. It's important to have access to quick funds for repairs and hotel accommodation.
4. Documents
It’s always a good idea to have your logbook (V5C) for the vehicle, your Certificate of Motor Insurance and your driving licence.
Carrying more than usual?
If you’re planning on taking bicycles, more luggage or even pets with you on your trip, then it pays to prepare.
We’ve got helpful guides on how to choose the right type of bike rack, how to make sure your roof box will be suitable, and the safest way to travel with dogs.
The driver
Before and during the journey, we recommend that the driver takes the following precautions, for their own safety and for the safety of passengers.
- Make sure you get proper rest before driving. An early start after a good night's sleep is preferable to a late start after a day's work.
- Don't drink alcohol before or during the trip.
- Take regular breaks, at least every two hours.
- Stay calm, no matter what happens.
Like anything, preparation is key.
Plan as much as you can in advance, including making sure you have valid breakdown cover, and you'll be able to deal with most problems without too much trouble.
