Tips To Make Traveling By Car Easier In The Summer
You may love the heat of summer, especially the prospect of vacations, and finally being able to go on a road trip. The excitement and anticipation can make you forget important details like checking your car’s condition before taking it for a long-haul journey. Neglecting certain things before taking your vehicle for a summer trip can put you in an unpleasant situation. For example, an engine that runs too hot can damage the vehicle and threaten your safety.
Safe driving does not mean that you should not take care of yourself. Your car can break down, and the engine might heat up somewhere you cannot get in touch with roadside assistance services. To make sure you are equipped to deal with any unfortunate event like this, always keep some essential items in your car before you travel.
Here is a list of some of the do’s and don’ts we have compiled to help prevent your car from overheating and equip you for any unfortunate circumstances:
The Do’s
Bring Water
Try to keep at least a few bottles of water in the car with you. To prevent dehydration, you should drink at least a couple glasses of water every hour while driving. In addition to this, keep some water bottles for the radiator in case the engine heats up.
Park In Shade
You can feel the difference in temperature under the shade as compared to being directly under the sun and so can your car. Try parking under the shade of a building or a tree to prevent your car from heating up. This will not only keep your car cool but prolong its life as well. If you cannot find any shady spot, use a sun cover to stave off heat from direct sunlight.
Tinted Windows
Use tinted windows in your car to protect it from build-up excess heat. You can also use UV heat shields on your windows to protect the interior from any damage. However, covering your windows with sunshades will offer the best protection against all types of rays.
Keep Windows Open
Keeping your car’s windows closed will trap the hot air inside it. Leave your windows open slightly to allow the air to escape and if your car has a sunroof, crack that open too. When leaving your windows open, make sure to keep an eye out for sudden weather changes. Also, make sure the open window does not have enough space for a person to pass through.
First-Aid Kit
When you drive for long periods in the summer, make sure you have a first aid kit on board. Your body can lose a lot of essential salts and electrolytes as you sweat. It’s best to keep packets of oral rehydration solution, electrolytes, and all necessary medicines with you.
Emergency Car Tools
No matter how well prepared you are, you still cannot completely rule out minor breakdowns and mishaps on a long journey. Carrying an emergency car tool kit is a good practice. To avoid being stranded in the scorching sun waiting for a nearby roadside assistance service, keep the necessities such as a car jack, and a spare tire with you.
The Don’ts
Devices Left on The Dashboard
Avoid leaving your electronic devices and other equipment inside your car on the dashboard. It will heat more quickly than the inside of the car and can increase the chances of permanently damaging your electronics.
Avoid Alcohol Consumption
You may feel cooler after drinking a bottle of beer, but it will stimulate adrenal secretion after the alcohol enters the body. This will speed up your heartbeat, expand blood vessels and increase the heat leaving the body through water evaporation, causing you to become thirstier.
Therefore, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages during the day to avoid dehydration. Driving under the influence (DUI) can get you in a lot of trouble with the law.
Cluttered Car
Air-conditioning minimizes the mileage of a car. You should, therefore, remove any non-essential items from your car so that the air-conditioner can cool the car’s interior without being overburdened.
Refueling During The Day
Avoid refueling during a hot day. Fuel is sold by volume at a certain degree of temperature. At high temperatures, fuel expands, and you get less volume than paid for. Try to fill up in the early morning or evening.
In addition to these, there are many other issues you can face during a long-distance journey. It’s a good practice to find a reliable automobile service provider who can diagnose and service your car before you hit the road. However, if you are stuck in the middle of a road and don’t know what to do, then you should call for professional help.
About Action Towing
At Action Towing, we provide expert vehicle towing services and emergency roadside assistance throughout Edmonton and surrounding areas. For more information, visit our website, or contact us today for personalized service.
