As the sun starts to appear and we wave goodbye to the cold and windy weather, we can all get excited for the break with the kids, bbqs in the garden, and those brilliant UK road trips!
Whether you are hitting the roads for your summer getaway or heading to your friends to relax in the sun, we have those all important tasks for you to complete this summer. Higher temperatures can really affect your vehicle, which is why we have created a go-to summer car maintenance checklist to help guide you on some of the tasks you need to be completing this season.
Browse the list below to learn more about the top 6 summer car maintenance tasks…
Regular Car Maintenance, Why Is It So Important?
Regardless of the time of the year, whether it be summer or winter, your car needs to be regularly maintained. Not only will it help prevent a breakdown, it will also help minimise any problems that your car may have and help keep you and other road users safe this summer.
Keeping up to date with tasks such as checking tyre pressure and tread, topping up engine oil, and refilling your washer fluid can all help in the grand scheme of things.
Regular car maintenance doesn’t need to always fall on your shoulders, it can also be aided by your local garage. This includes annual servicing and your MOT check, as well as any inspections such as a battery check, tyre check or AC check.
6 Things To Check Off Your To-Do List!
Tyres…
Time to ditch those winter tyres and swap for some summer ones! Take a look at the tyre pressure and tread if you haven’t already, and ensure that it is of legal requirement. Your tyre pressure can often be found in your vehicle’s handbook, if not online, and your tyre tread needs to be within the legal limit of 1.6mm.
Air Conditioning…
With temperatures typically set to soar during summer months (fingers crossed!), you may want to take advantage of your air conditioning. This task is more beneficial to the driver and passengers rather than helping you to prevent a breakdown, but it does keep you and your family happy for that long family road trip. If your air conditioning isn’t working as it should, visit your local garage and book in for an AC inspection.
Fluid Level…
Much like with any car checklist blog we create, we always recommend checking your fluid levels. This includes engine oil, coolant and washer fluid. If you are unsure of how to do this, you may be able to find a tutorial online that you can follow along with or you can visit your local garage to get support from an experienced team.
Windscreen Wipers…
Whilst we hope that there isn’t much rain this summer, it is still of high importance to check that these are working as they should. You may often find in summer that lots of bugs are sprayed across your window, so topping up your windscreen washer fluid is also very important.
Brake Testing…
As you already know, your brakes are vital in keeping you safe on the roads, which is another reason why you should have them regularly tested and checked. During cold, wet, and windy months, your braking system may have been damaged, so be sure to visit a garage to get your brakes checked, if you don’t feel confident checking these yourself.
Battery Testing…
Your battery is just as important as your brakes and so forth also needs to be checked on a regular basis, especially before summer arrives. Don’t get caught out, book your vehicle in for a check and ensure your battery is in top notch condition.
Top Tips For Your Summer Road Trip…
If you are heading out on a road trip after completing your summer car checklist then we also have some additional tips for you! It is important to prepare as much as you can when it comes to long journeys, so that in the event that you break down, you have everything you need.
Here are our top 10 things to pack in your vehicle before you leave the house…
- First aid kit
- Long life snacks
- Bottled water
- Extra screenwash
- Extra batteries
- High vis jackets, torches, and warning triangles
- Extra clothes or blankets
- Jumper cables
- Emergency cash or change
- The Mansfield Group’s number
Even with just the small care package above, you can be sure that you are prepared for any sudden breakdowns or emergencies. Our team will also be of service to you and help you wherever you are across the UK. As we have over 30 service centres nationwide, we are able to offer reliable vehicle recovery services to domestic and commercial customers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Simply give our team a call on 0870 600 3444 and we will dispatch one of our fantastic drivers to you!
