HERE COMES THE SUMMER!

Remember the song from The Undertones ‘Here Comes The Summer’? Would you believe that it was released in July 1979. That will make it 38 years old this coming month. If you don’t, then check out this link for a blast from the past.

The title of the song is apt given that all the weather reports are pointing to an upcoming heatwave in the next few days.

So, with that in mind, check your car in summer and here’s a few things to keep in mind when it’s hot:

• You should try and do a visual inspection of your car everyday before you drive it. In the hot weather, pay particular attention to your tyres. If your tyres are even just slightly damaged, the hot weather can exacerbate that damage, causing friction and heat which puts pressure on those weak spots. Just look around your tyres before you go out to check both the tread and the inflation levels. If you are towing anything, then it’s even more crucial that you check the inflation of your tyres, allowing a little extra for the heavy load.

• During the high temperatures you should keep an eye on your car’s cooling systems such as the coolant levels, cooling fans and coolant hoses. These should be checked at regular intervals by making sure the coolant reservoir is kept topped up. Watch out for white staining or wet patches on coolant hoses and check your fan by letting the engine run for 5 to 10 minutes. The fan should then cut in to cool the car down.

• Finally, hot weather can cause fatigue, so plan ahead and make time on long journeys to take a break, even swapping drivers if you can. Keep yourself hydrated and don’t overdo it, a few more kilometres might not mean much but it can seem double that distance in hot conditions.

Here comes the summer! Enjoy.