Road trips and summer are terms that end up in the same sentence often. Summer is vacation season. We hit the beach, campground or some fancy hotel. The warm weather brings us out of winter hibernation. More cars are on the road and more pedestrians are crossing the streets. Aside from the heavier traffic, we also need to watch out for the heat. So for the month of June, Penske Chevrolet of Cerritos is offering up three summer road trip preparation tips.
#1 Check The Air Conditioner
The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a heat wave while driving and end up dripping sweat as you arrive at your hotel. Run the air conditioner for a while before you venture forth on your next road trip. If the A/C unit blows cold air and sounds like its running fine, then it should be fine. If you're noticing a lack of cool air, inconsistent performance or a rattling fan, you should have the A/C checked.
#2 Check The Cooling Fan
The cooling fan is linked to your air conditioner. It should be running when the air conditioner unit is on as it helps cool the engine. Make sure the cooling fan is running when your A/C is turned on to max. If it is not, you should get this checked immediately. A bad cooling fan can cause the engine to overheat.
#3 Check Coolant Fluid
Checking coolant fluid is the easiest task on our list. Just make sure you check the fluid when the engine is cool. You do not want to open the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Boiling fluids could spray out at you. If the coolant is low, refill it with a 50/50 mixture of water and coolant. Maintaining optimal coolant levels will help you avoid a situation where you have to pull over to the side of the road because your engine is overheating.