Heat Harms Vehicles

Posted June 23, 2016

Summer is here! While the change in seasons means nice weather and vacations, it can also mean a big change for your vehicle. Heat kills cars, which means that giving your vehicle some extra love this summer will mean avoiding expensive repairs, saving you money and headaches!

While heat causes many components on your vehicle to run harder and experience more wear and tear, your engine just might experience the most stress during summer months.

Your engine needs a lot of help in order to avoid overheating:

• Engine oil lubricates parts. If the oil is dirty or contaminated or has become too thick and viscous with age, it won’t be able to perform it’s job reducing friction (and heat) between the moving parts in your engine.
• Coolant and the radiator work to remove heat from the engine. The coolant (or antifreeze) is responsible for keeping the temperature running at the optimal temperature.
• Belts keep fans running. If a belt cracks in the heat or breaks under pressure, the fans that keep your car cool will stop running.
• Hoses carry critical fluids. There are a lot of moving parts in your engine, and the hoses that connect them make sure the motor oil and coolant get to all of the parts they need to reach.

Each of these parts can be affected by hot weather! When belts and hoses crack or fluids degrade, whether it’s from the added heat or from skipped maintenance, you’ll end up stranded on the side of the road, waiting for a tow!

To avoid that mess, have your car inspected by an ASE-Certified technician. The shop will help you understand what preventive maintenance is needed to keep your engine cool even on the hottest day. Rather than waiting for a tow truck, you can worry about getting the pool to cool yourself off!

Schedule your next appointment for a vehicle inspection or preventative maintenance service by calling our team of experienced technicians at 616.796.9929.

Categories: Car Repair

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