Summer in Atlanta is here, and with many people enjoying pool days or vacations, caring for your vehicle may be the farthest thing from your mind. However, the hot weather can put a lot of stress on your car. Here are four simple summer car care tips to help protect your ride this season.

1. Keep Your Car Cool

Keeping your car cool does more than make it comfortable – it helps protect the interior of your car, especially those with leather or wood grain interiors.

• The less sun that reaches your car, the cooler it will be when you’re ready to go.
  • Get a sunscreen for your windshield.
  • Park in the shade or a covered garage as much as possible.
  • If you live in an area with particularly hot summers, a full-car cover can help protect your vehicle from the elements year-round.
  • Cover hot spots such as the seats and steering wheel with towels or cooling car seat covers.
• Crack your windows to help ventilate your vehicle and keep hot air from accumulating. If you have a sunroof, now is the time to make good use of it.
• Consider tinting your windows. Darker windows make it harder for UV rays to warm the inside of your car, but make sure to check the local laws about window tinting before you do so.
• Investing in a solar-powered fan may also help keep your car cool. This handy device hangs over your window and pumps hot air out of your vehicle while parked. As the name suggests, it is powered by solar energy so there’s no need to plug it in and use your car’s battery.

2. Check Your Tires’ Air Pressure

Your tires have different inflation pressure requirements depending on the season. During the summer, hot air expands, so lower air tire pressure is typically recommended to compensate. Tire air pressure that is too high increases your risk of blowout and damage to your vehicle, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations and fill your tires accordingly.

3. Wax Your Car

UV rays take a toll on your car’s paint job. That’s especially true for cars that spend a lot of time parked outdoors, exposed to the elements.

Waxing your car physically protects your paint from the sun and other elements. Some types offer UV-specific protection, so make sure to check the label before you buy to provide your car with the best protection.

4. Check Your Windshield Wipers

Depending on how much you use them, you can expect to replace your windshield wipers every six months to a year. Streaks are likely the first sign that your wiper blades need to be replaced, but you may also notice squeaking due to inconsistent contact with the windshield. If the rubber or frames of your windshield wiper are damaged, that’s another sign that you need to get replacements.

If it isn’t time to replace them, consider cleaning them near the start of summer. There’s a good chance that your windshield wiper blades are still holding onto some pollen and other springtime pollutants if you haven’t washed your car recently.

To clean your windshield wiper blades, lift up the arm holding your windshield wiper in place and clean the rubber portion of the blade with rubbing alcohol. You can also use a mixture of water and white vinegar. Alternately, you can clean them the next time you are at the gas station using the provided windshield squeegee.

Remember – your windshield wipers are a safety feature. The cleaner and clearer your windshield is while it’s raining, the better you can focus on the road and see other drivers.

Keep Your Car Up To Date On Maintenance With T3 Atlanta

Whether you are on top of your routine maintenance or your car could use a tune-up, T3 Atlanta can help your car running at its best. We provide a wide range of maintenance services for Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, and Infiniti vehicles in the Atlanta area. Give us a call and book an appointment today!