Learning About Auto Service Procedures

Summer is just around the corner. Is your car ready for those road trips you have planned? Adding preventative maintenance to your list of things to do can extend the life of your vehicle and prevent roadside breakdowns this summer. To keep your car in tiptop shape during your vacations, here are four maintenance steps you should perform.

Start With an Oil Change

If you're going to be taking road trips this summer, you should start with an oil change. This is particularly important if it's been a while since your last oil change. Starting the summer with clean oil will protect your engine from the extreme temperatures you might experience.

Flush the Radiator

Whether you're going to be taking road trips or not, you need to flush your radiator before summer arrives, especially if you live in an area that experiences extreme heat, such as the deserts of the southern states. Engine coolant can wear out over time, which can leave your engine at risk of overheating during the summer. To protect your cooling system, you should flush your radiator before you head out for your summer vacations.

Give Your Air Conditioner the Once-Over

When the temperatures outside start to rise, it's time to turn the air conditioner on. The last thing you want is to have your air conditioner malfunction while you're on the road with your family. To make sure your air conditioner is ready to keep you cool this summer, take it in for a maintenance check. Be sure to have the Freon levels checked, as well as the belts that drive your air conditioner. Giving your air conditioner a thorough once-over before summer arrives will help you keep cool inside your car when the temperatures start to rise.

Check Your Belts

If a cross-country road trip is in your plans for this summer, now's the time to have your belts checked. Belts can wear out over time, and when they do, they can leave you stranded on the side of the road. If they break down while you're on a road trip, you could find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Protect yourself, and your family, by having the belts inspected before you take off this summer.

Don't take chances with your vehicle this summer. The tips provided here will help you get your car ready for the vacations you plan on taking. For other maintenance tips, talk to a mechanic at an auto repair shop like Newton Tire Company near you.