In Minnesota, we’re all grateful when summer rolls in, quickly melting the last lingering piles of snow and blessing us with months of warm weather and sunshine. However, the transition from winter to summer isn’t always so pleasant for your car. If you’re a vehicle owner in the Twin Cities metro area, it’s important to have some routine maintenance performed on your car or truck to ensure a smooth ride throughout summer. Continue reading to learn some of the most important summer car care tips to keep your vehicle in great shape.
5 Essential Car Maintenance Practices for Summer
- Make Sure A/C is Working – Whether going to work or going on a road trip, summer drives won’t be very pleasant if your air conditioning isn’t working. Because you probably didn’t use your A/C all winter and spring, it’s a good idea to turn it on in early summer to make sure it’s blowing cold air. If your air conditioning unit is blowing hot air, make sure there’s enough refrigerant in the tank. If this simple fix doesn’t work, bring your vehicle to a trusted auto mechanic in the Twin Cities for repairs.
- Change Your Oil – Changing your oil is a simple but crucial part of summer car care. It’s recommended that you get an oil change twice per year, and it’s a good idea to have one of those changes in early summer, since you don’t want your engine running too hot without enough oil to lubricate it. You may also want to swap out your oil filter along with the oil itself. If you aren’t comfortable changing your oil by yourself, you can bring your car to an auto maintenance shop in the Twin Cities area for an oil change.
- Fill Engine Fluids – Your oil isn’t the only fluid that may need to be topped off or changed out come summer. It’s also a good idea to check the levels of your coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Coolant plays a vital role in preventing your engine from overheating on hot summer days and the rest of these fluids are critical to a properly functioning car as well.
- Check Your Tires – Winter road conditions and the pot holes they create can really do a number on your tires. Inspect your car’s tires in summer to make sure they aren’t damaged or balding. Check the air pressure in your tires, too, since it’s likely to change with the warm weather. The ideal air pressure for the tires in most cars ranges from 30 to 35 PSI. You may need to inflate or deflate your tires to fall into this range.
- Test Your Brakes – Winter driving can place strain on your brakes, which leaves them in a bad place by the start of summer. As part of your summer car care routine, you should test your brakes to make sure they’ll do their job if you need to stop your vehicle abruptly. If you notice any signs of brake damage, like loud squeals of protest or your vehicle shaking as you apply the brakes, then it’s time to set up a brake repair appointment at your local auto repair shop in the West Minneapolis metro.
Need Summer Car Maintenance? Visit Our Shop
If you’d like to bring your car in for maintenance, inspection and repairs to get it ready for summer, we’d be happy to serve you at Arvu Auto. Speak with us today to schedule an appointment for your vehicle in the West Minneapolis metro!
