Top tips to keep your car from breaking down in hot weather

Of course, super-hot days can make us all feel a bit on the slow side – and that can also affect other aspects of life such as transport, for example.

The heatwave of 2022 led to train cancellations and other precautions being taken such as painting rails white to reflect heat – but the impact of hot weather can also spill onto the roads, with such potential issues as tarmac melting if it gets too balmy.

And of course, there’s the increased risk that your vehicle might break down, or otherwise be compromised by extreme heat.

How can you keep your car safe from breaking down in warm weather – and what can you do to prevent it?

Follow these top tips to keep yourself on the road when the heatwave hits…

This is one of the most important things you can do, as coolant fluid is crucial in warm weather – without it your engine runs the risk of overheating, which could cause serious problems to your vehicle.

‘In the summer months, your car is likely to run warmer than it does in the depths of winter,’ explains Select Car Leasing’s managing director Graham Conway.

‘So it’s vital you make sure your car’s coolant levels are adequately topped-up. You’ll find the coolant reservoir under your bonnet, and the fluid will need to be sitting in the reservoir between a maximum and minimum level.

‘You lose a small amount of coolant to evaporation – which is perfectly normal – over the months and years, so you really do need to keep an eye on the levels. A more pronounced drop in coolant might indicate a leak, however, which you’ll need to get fixed as soon as you can.’

If you think your car may be overheating, look out for such signs as the gauge light signal on the dashboard temperature, steam or smoke coming from the bonnet, the engine making unusual sounds, or unusual smells such as burning oil, plastic or sweet smells.

A car battery can run out in the summer just as easily as it can in the winter – and the last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere when it’s baking hot.

Source of data and images: metro