The scorching summer is well and truly upon us and most parts of India are bearing the brunt of the sun. And though you might think your car is in good shape, it?s important to see that it goes through seasonal maintenance during summer when temperatures rise substantially. Here are some tips to ensure that your car breezes through the hot clime and keeps you cool when it?s hot outside.

INTERIOR CARE

If your car is parked exposed to the sun, the steering wheel can become impossible to touch and the seats difficult to sit on. The metal of the seatbelt can also turn hot to the touch. Keeping your car cool protects the interior from the searing heat and helps the upholstery last longer, without it fading. There are other benefits too like the air-conditioner being more efficient and not having to work as hard to cool the car?s cabin.

Therefore, park your car in a shaded area such as under a parking deck or a tree. Avoid direct sunlight whenever you can. If no shade is available, park your car in a manner such that the sun?s rays are on the rear windshield instead of the front. This will keep the dashboard and the steering wheel cooler.

Keep the car windows open by about half an inch to allow the heat to escape. The interior temperatures can exceed the outside temperature by five to eight degrees. A good aid is to put a sunshade inside the front windshield of your car. This will help protect the dash from turning too hot and cracking in the long run. If possible, buy a car with lighter-colored seats like beige. Dark surfaces like grey and black absorb more heat than light surfaces, so a darker seat will be hotter than a lighter seat. Apply the same principle when hunting for seat covers. Also remember that cotton is cooler than polyester or leather. So cotton fabric for seat covers breathes better and absorbs less heat than the others. Another inexpensive method of keeping the cabin cool is covering seats with a towel. When you?re out of the car, the towel will shield the seat from sunlight. When you?re in the car, it protects you from the hot seat.

RADIATOR and FLUID CHECKS

The coolant is, without doubt, the most important element for your car in the summer. Make sure you service the radiator and use a top-quality coolant. Many people will not realise the fact that the radiator needs to be serviced (flushed) before the summer months arrive. It is recommended that you talk to your mechanic and schedule a radiator service and ask him to put new coolant in your car?s radiator to avoid engine overheating. If the engine overheats, your car could suffer a blown engine component which will cost you thousands to repair.

In the event of a lot of steam coming out the bonnet, lift off the accelerator and pull over to one side of the road after finding a safe place to park, and stop the engine completely. Avoid direct contact with the bonnet latch release and use a cloth as a precaution against heated metal, which can burn your fingers. Let the engine cool off for a few minutes and avoid pouring water or any other liquid immediately over it. If you are far away from a service station and have no coolant, then it?s okay to pour water into the radiator to return home. But make sure that you do this after at least 10 to 15 minutes after the engine has been stopped and has substantially cooled down. This is important as a hot engine block can crack beyond repair if cold water is poured on it. Also remember to pour the coolant/water with the engine running.

SECONDARY CHECK

If you find that the coolant levels are sufficient but the engine is still overheating, then check for any obstructions around the radiator hoses that might be stopping it from supplying coolant to the engine. Also check that the fan that cools the radiator is running or not. If it isn?t, then check if it?s due to a simple fuse issue or the connection has failed. Try and take the vehicle to the nearest service workshop and get this fixed.

BATTERY POWER

Most new cars now come with zero-maintenance batteries. This basically means that the battery?s water levels don?t need to be topped regularly. However, high temperatures can destroy car batteries. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate. Have the electrical system checked to make sure that your car is charging at the correct rate. You can have this done when you do the regular oil change.

If you have a battery that needs to be ?topped off? (as mechanics say), add distilled water if needed. Even get the no-maintenance batteries opened to check for any loss of fluid or deteriorating quality.

FLUIDS CHECK

Have the oil and filters changed by a professional before leaving home. Oil should be changed every 10,000 kilometres or every three months, but check your car owner?s manual because intervals vary for engines in newer vehicles. Also remember that apart from engine oil, the transmission, power steering and brake units also need fluids. So do get these checked as well. Whatever you do, avoid overfilling reservoirs at all costs. Use a heavier grade of oil in your car during the summer, which will decrease the amount of viscosity and parts wear in the engine.

TYRE WEAR

Check the tyre pressure and tread levels often. As the heat fluctuates, it can affect the air inside the tyres, and maintaining the correct PSI can extend mileage. Rotate the tyres if necessary ? you surely wouldn?t want to suffer a deflated tyre in the heat. Do not forget to check the spare tyre?s air pressure either. If you?re not sure what?s correct, check the recommendations listed on the side of the driver?s door.

Since tyres tend to heat up easily during summer, it is essential to get them filled with air early in the day when it is relatively cooler to get the correct reading. Also ensure that the tyres aren?t overly worn. If they are, you should replace them. Also, never ever pour water on tyres after a long drive as a hot tyre will develop cracks.

JUNK THE OLD

Replace any hoses or fittings that may be wearing themselves out. Hose and fitting cracks are a common occurrence because they were too worn out to withstand the summer heat.

When you drive your car (at any time of the year), your car will get extremely hot under the hood (sometimes reaching temperatures of 150-200deg or more) and if you have worn out parts on your car, these parts may not be able to withstand this heat plus the harsh summer heat. It is recommended that you replace anything that?s worn out especially before the summer months to avoid costly repair jobs in some cases.

If you wish to breeze through the summer months, it?s always advisable to get minor glitches repaired and get your car in prime condition. After all, it?s a small price to pay for staying cool.