Protecting Your Vehicle from the Heat
Hot weather affects your vehicle’s performance and lifespan. Here’s what to watch out for this summer.
By Wendy Helfenbaum | Illustrations by Mike Ellis
The sun, the heat, the clear blue sky, the call of the open road — the stage is set for your next road trip this summer. But that asphalt is hot and the A/C will be working overtime. Just as you prepare with sunscreen and hydration before spending time outdoors, give your vehicle the same kind of attention. Read on for some essential summer car-maintenance tips.
Keep your engine cool
Extreme summer temperatures can cause your engine to run hotter. Because hot air is less dense than cold air, your engine could get less of the oxygen required for combustion, which can lead to decreased power and acceleration. Though engines run best approximately between 90.5°C and 104°C, your car’s cooling system works harder in hot conditions to carry heat from the combustion chamber. With high external temperatures, there’s less air volume flowing through your radiator, so it cannot release heat from a hot engine as efficiently. As long as your radiator is working to peak efficiency, this is not a problem. But this is also why you need to keep an eye on your dashboard.
High temperatures also increase fuel evaporation, which can cause vapour lock. This occurs when fuel becomes vapour before it reaches the engine, disrupting fuel delivery and resulting in rough idling or stalling. If the engine overheats, that may damage components or lead to engine failure.
To optimize your engine’s performance and efficiency, park in the shade and always maintain the appropriate engine oil and coolant levels according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Monitor the dashboard
Some dashboard lights are a warning that something needs attention and you should see your mechanic promptly, but you don’t have to stop driving immediately. Some lights — especially if they’re flashing — are critical alerts and require you to stop driving right away. If any of these lights come on, pull over safely and assess whether you’ll need a tow.
- The red or yellow engine coolant temperature light — which looks like a thermometer — indicates that your coolant level is dangerously low or that the engine is overheating.
- If the temperature gauge needle is in the red or H zone, your engine is running too hot.
- Flashing blue or red lights might mean an electrical fault in your cooling system.
- Warning messages like Check Coolant Level or Engine Overheating indicate the need for attention right away.
When any of these dashboard lights come on, turn off the air conditioning to reduce engine load and crank up the heater, so the blower will draw heat away from the engine, basically acting like a second radiator. It’s a temporary fix for an overheating car, but if the temperature does not go down after a minute or two, turn off the engine and seek roadside assistance.
Vehicle battery maintenance
Like extreme cold, sweltering heat takes its toll on your battery. Here’s how to make sure your car starts all summer long.
- Inspect your battery regularly, making sure the terminals are tight with no signs of corrosion, like a white, blue or green powdery buildup.
- Clean terminals with a battery terminal brush and a paste of water and baking soda.
- Preserve your battery’s charge by not allowing electronics to be plugged in and charging when the engine is off.
- Park indoors to reduce heat stress on your battery.
- Get your battery tested before hitting the road — take advantage of CAA’s Mobile Battery Service where available.
Protect your tires
Road surfaces heat up under the sun, impacting tire pressure, vehicle performance and engine lifespan. An increase of 5°C to 6°C in temperature boosts tire pressure by one pound per square inch (psi). Tires should be checked visually prior to each trip and at least once a month with a tire gauge. Not only will improperly inflated tires affect handling and performance, they can have a negative impact on safety devices such as anti-lock braking systems, traction control systems and stability control systems. If your psi is too high, let some air out; if it’s too low, add air. You’ll get better fuel economy when tires are inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the driver’s side door jamb or in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
Hot pavement accelerates tire wear, so be sure to ask your mechanic to rotate tires regularly. High temperatures can also speed up the aging of the tire’s rubber compounds, which can cause cracking or weak sidewalls, increasing the risk of blowouts. The hotter the asphalt, the harder your tires work, so reduce your speed and avoid overloading your vehicle to decrease the strain on your tire’s internal structure.
Smart fuel management
Fuel formulas change in the spring. Butane, which helps cars start faster in cold temperatures, is replaced with alkylates, which burn cleaner. Because summer-blend fuel is more expensive to produce, maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency is key. Towing heavy loads, driving on hilly roads, quick acceleration, hard stops, dirty filters and unbalanced tires — all of these can reduce fuel efficiency. Here’s what to do to maximize your car’s fuel efficiency.
- Avoid idling and stop-and-go driving.
- Accelerate gently and use cruise control to regulate your speed.
- Remove excess weight, such as rooftop carriers or bike racks when they’re not needed.
- Maintain proper tire pressure, which reduces friction.
- Change your oil according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Swap out air filters and replace spark plugs according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
And keep in mind, CAA Members save 3¢ per litre at participating Shell locations, conditions apply.
Climate control
Flipping on the air conditioner makes your engine work harder to power the compressor, condenser and evaporator that pressurize and circulate the heat-absorbing refrigerant cooling down your car. Using your A/C can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 percent, according to Natural Resources Canada (NrCan). Try not to keep it set at max, but keep in mind that running it while driving on the highway is still more fuel-efficient than open windows, which can cause aerodynamic drag. When you’re driving slower, though, drag is much less of a factor, and open windows are the better option.
UV protection
You’re not the only one that needs sunscreen. Your car takes a beating from the sun’s UV rays, which can damage the paint and clear coat and can lead to dry or cracked plastic or rubber trim. Park in the shade, toss on a UV-reflective car cover and maintain your vehicle by washing it with pH-balanced products containing a built-in wax. Products such as ceramic spray coatings, sealants and interior protectants can also help reduce damage from UV rays.
Heavy loads and fuel economy
The heavier your haul, the more fuel is consumed — and that goes for passengers and pets, as well as towing a boat or trailer. Outboard carrying devices, such as a bike rack, increase air resistance and drag; opt for a rear rack if possible. Fuel efficiency decreases about two percent for every 45 kilograms of extra weight. A study by NrCan found that for every 100-kg reduction in load, the combined city/highway fuel consumption could decrease by about 0.4 L/100 km for cars and about 0.5 L/100 km for light trucks. Also, check your brakes. If brakes don’t release all the way due to extra weight, that can add resistance. Be sure to get your brakes checked before setting out.
Your car can stand up to the heat, but it performs even better with the extra attention. Knowing the right summer road-trip car maintenance and some hot-weather driving tips will get you ready for those long drives and big adventures — safely and confidently. CAA
Related stories
Is It Time for a New Vehicle?
Tune-Ups to Maximize Fuel Efficiency
Road-Trip-Ready: Car Safety Check
Keep your engine cool
Extreme summer temperatures can cause your engine to run hotter. Because hot air is less dense than cold air, your engine could get less of the oxygen required for combustion, which can lead to decreased power and acceleration. Though engines run best approximately between 90.5°C and 104°C, your car’s cooling system works harder in hot conditions to carry heat from the combustion chamber. With high external temperatures, there’s less air volume flowing through your radiator, so it cannot release heat from a hot engine as efficiently. As long as your radiator is working to peak efficiency, this is not a problem. But this is also why you need to keep an eye on your dashboard.
High temperatures also increase fuel evaporation, which can cause vapour lock. This occurs when fuel becomes vapour before it reaches the engine, disrupting fuel delivery and resulting in rough idling or stalling. If the engine overheats, that may damage components or lead to engine failure.
To optimize your engine’s performance and efficiency, park in the shade and always maintain the appropriate engine oil and coolant levels according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Monitor the dashboard
Some dashboard lights are a warning that something needs attention and you should see your mechanic promptly, but you don’t have to stop driving immediately. Some lights — especially if they’re flashing — are critical alerts and require you to stop driving right away. If any of these lights come on, pull over safely and assess whether you’ll need a tow.
- The red or yellow engine coolant temperature light — which looks like a thermometer — indicates that your coolant level is dangerously low or that the engine is overheating.
- If the temperature gauge needle is in the red or H zone, your engine is running too hot.
- Flashing blue or red lights might mean an electrical fault in your cooling system.
- Warning messages like Check Coolant Level or Engine Overheating indicate the need for attention right away.
When any of these dashboard lights come on, turn off the air conditioning to reduce engine load and crank up the heater, so the blower will draw heat away from the engine, basically acting like a second radiator. It’s a temporary fix for an overheating car, but if the temperature does not go down after a minute or two, turn off the engine and seek roadside assistance.
Vehicle battery maintenance
Like extreme cold, sweltering heat takes its toll on your battery. Here’s how to make sure your car starts all summer long.
- Inspect your battery regularly, making sure the terminals are tight with no signs of corrosion, like a white, blue or green powdery buildup.
- Clean terminals with a battery terminal brush and a paste of water and baking soda.
- Preserve your battery’s charge by not allowing electronics to be plugged in and charging when the engine is off.
- Park indoors to reduce heat stress on your battery.
- Get your battery tested before hitting the road — take advantage of CAA’s Mobile Battery Service where available.
Protect your tires
Road surfaces heat up under the sun, impacting tire pressure, vehicle performance and engine lifespan. An increase of 5°C to 6°C in temperature boosts tire pressure by one pound per square inch (psi). Tires should be checked visually prior to each trip and at least once a month with a tire gauge. Not only will improperly inflated tires affect handling and performance, they can have a negative impact on safety devices such as anti-lock braking systems, traction control systems and stability control systems. If your psi is too high, let some air out; if it’s too low, add air. You’ll get better fuel economy when tires are inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the driver’s side door jamb or in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
Hot pavement accelerates tire wear, so be sure to ask your mechanic to rotate tires regularly. High temperatures can also speed up the aging of the tire’s rubber compounds, which can cause cracking or weak sidewalls, increasing the risk of blowouts. The hotter the asphalt, the harder your tires work, so reduce your speed and avoid overloading your vehicle to decrease the strain on your tire’s internal structure.
Smart fuel management
Fuel formulas change in the spring. Butane, which helps cars start faster in cold temperatures, is replaced with alkylates, which burn cleaner. Because summer-blend fuel is more expensive to produce, maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency is key. Towing heavy loads, driving on hilly roads, quick acceleration, hard stops, dirty filters and unbalanced tires — all of these can reduce fuel efficiency. Here’s what to do to maximize your car’s fuel efficiency.
- Avoid idling and stop-and-go driving.
- Accelerate gently and use cruise control to regulate your speed.
- Remove excess weight, such as rooftop carriers or bike racks when they’re not needed.
- Maintain proper tire pressure, which reduces friction.
- Change your oil according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Swap out air filters and replace spark plugs according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
And keep in mind, CAA Members save 3¢ per litre at participating Shell locations, conditions apply.
Climate control
Flipping on the air conditioner makes your engine work harder to power the compressor, condenser and evaporator that pressurize and circulate the heat-absorbing refrigerant cooling down your car. Using your A/C can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 percent, according to Natural Resources Canada (NrCan). Try not to keep it set at max, but keep in mind that running it while driving on the highway is still more fuel-efficient than open windows, which can cause aerodynamic drag. When you’re driving slower, though, drag is much less of a factor, and open windows are the better option.
UV protection
You’re not the only one that needs sunscreen. Your car takes a beating from the sun’s UV rays, which can damage the paint and clear coat and can lead to dry or cracked plastic or rubber trim. Park in the shade, toss on a UV-reflective car cover and maintain your vehicle by washing it with pH-balanced products containing a built-in wax. Products such as ceramic spray coatings, sealants and interior protectants can also help reduce damage from UV rays.
Heavy loads and fuel economy
The heavier your haul, the more fuel is consumed — and that goes for passengers and pets, as well as towing a boat or trailer. Outboard carrying devices, such as a bike rack, increase air resistance and drag; opt for a rear rack if possible. Fuel efficiency decreases about two percent for every 45 kilograms of extra weight. A study by NrCan found that for every 100-kg reduction in load, the combined city/highway fuel consumption could decrease by about 0.4 L/100 km for cars and about 0.5 L/100 km for light trucks. Also, check your brakes. If brakes don’t release all the way due to extra weight, that can add resistance. Be sure to get your brakes checked before setting out.
Your car can stand up to the heat, but it performs even better with the extra attention. Knowing the right summer road-trip car maintenance and some hot-weather driving tips will get you ready for those long drives and big adventures — safely and confidently. CAA