Heat is as hard on cars as cold. Here is how to prevent a summer breakdown in Northern Virginia.
Heat Is as Hard on Cars as Cold
Virginia summers get hot and humid, and that heat is brutal on batteries, tires, and cooling systems. Most summer breakdowns, overheating and blowouts, are preventable with a few minutes of attention before a long drive or a road trip.
Beat the Heat
- Coolant, check the level and watch your temperature gauge, especially in stop-and-go traffic
- Tires, inspect tread and pressure; heat raises the risk of a blowout, and hot pavement makes it worse
- Battery, heat actually shortens battery life faster than cold does; test it if it's a few years old
- AC and belts, a failing belt or low refrigerant is a hot, miserable breakdown waiting to happen
- Never leave people or pets in a parked car, even briefly
If You Overheat
If the temperature gauge climbs into the red, turn off the AC, turn the heater on full (it pulls heat off the engine), and pull over safely. Turn the engine off and do not open a hot radiator cap, it can spray scalding coolant. Let it cool, and call PWC Towing at 571-520-0898 for a tow to a shop rather than risk engine damage by driving on.
Frequently Asked Questions
My car is overheating, should I keep driving?
No. Driving on an overheating engine can cause serious, expensive damage. Pull over safely, shut it off, and call 571-520-0898 for a tow to a shop.
Why do batteries die in summer?
Heat accelerates the chemical wear inside a battery, so summer often finishes off a battery that was already weak. Test yours before a long trip.