While Arizona summers are pretty toasty, to say the least, here are some tips to help you and your vehicle cope with our hot weather.
How to cool off the interior of your vehicle quickly:
- Open your windows to let the hot air out. A closed car can reach temperatures above 160 degrees. So, let that very hot air out after starting your car by opening the windows for at least a minute.
- Start off your climate control using fresh air not recycled. Again, this is done because the cabin air will be much hotter than the outside temperature. This will help the conditioned air cool down faster. After a couple minutes, you can switch over to recycled air to continue cooling off the cabin.
- Keep fan speed mid-range, not on high. Lower air volume will allow the air to get colder faster.
- When possible, park with the dashboard facing away from the sun. A hot dash is your biggest nemesis to having cool air because the dash heats it up as it passes through it. If you have to park toward the sun, use a windshield shade. As a bonus, you also will be able to hold the steering wheel without oven mitts.
- Tint your windows even if you have dark glass. The film not only shades the cabin, but it has UV protection, which will deflect the heat from your vehicle. (Not to mention, it looks pretty snazzy.)
During the summer, it is critical for your engine cooling system to be working properly. You want to make sure the system is full of fresh coolant. If your coolant is older than five years, it is time to change it. Coolant loses its protective qualities over time. We recommend using a multi-vehicle coolant, which usually is yellow in color.
If your vehicle uses Dexcool, we recommend changing it out with the yellow coolant within the first three years. Deco, which does not handle air contamination very well, will start to solidify, causing cooling system failure. Never fill your cooling system with plain water. If your cooling system becomes diluted, corrosion will form and ruin the system.
Always address cooling system leaks immediately. A small leak can lead to expensive engine repairs quickly when not resolved in a timely manner. If your engine temperature reaches the unsafe range, stop your engine as fast as you can. Driving just one extra mile with an overheated engine can spell disaster.
You also need to make sure your cooling fans are working properly. The fans not only ensure your engine keeps cool, but they also work in conjunction with the air conditioning system to keep you comfortable, as well.
Now is a great time to replace your wiper blades. Our hot dry weather basically has baked the rubber onto the windshield. So, when you do want to use them, they either rip or streak the glass as they wipe. Our monsoons show up without notice. So, be prepared with a fresh set of blades.
For more information, call H and I Automotive at (480) 985-9279. We are a full service professional automotive service center, serving our East Valley neighbors since 2009. Find us online at www.handiautomotive.com or on Facebook and Google+.