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It's summertime, and the livin' may be easy -- but
for your car, the heat can mean a lot of added strain.
Keep these topics in mind, when preparing for summer
driving:
Overheating | Tire
Care | Summer
Storms | Kids and pets | Air quality
Overheating
A common cause of summer breakdowns is overheating.
Your cooling system should be completely flushed
and refilled as recommended in your owner's manual.
The level, condition, and concentration of the
coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50
mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.)
If your car overheats -- or if you are doing regular
maintenance at home -- never remove the radiator
cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled! A professional
should check the tightness and condition of drive
belts, clamps, and hoses.
Tire care
Tire care is especially critical in warm weather
because long trips, heavy loads, high speeds and
higher temperatures all put additional stress on
your tires.
Check your tires regularly to be sure there are no
visible signs of wear or damage.
Be sure your tires are
properly inflated. Check
your tire pressure often with a gauge, especially
on long trips. Measure when the tires are cold, before
you drive on them. You can find the recommended inflation
pressure in your owner's manual, on a label frequently
found in the glove box, near the door latch on the
driver's side, or other locations on your vehicle.
The recommended inflation pressure is not to be confused
with the maximum inflation pressure shown on the
side of the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure,
tires will last longer and be less likely to fail,
and the car will use less fuel. Serious injury can
result from tire failure because of under inflation
or overloading.
Never overload your vehicle. Your car and tires
are designed to operate safely only up to their load
limits. These limits are shown in your owner's manual
and on the certification plate on the edge of the
driver's door.
Make sure there is enough
tread on the tire to operate safely, and make sure the tires are wearing normally.
All grooves should be visible and deep enough to
at least touch the top of Lincoln's head on a penny
inserted head first in the tread. Low tread or bald
tires are unsafe and need to be replaced.
If some spots on the tire
seem to be wearing faster than others, see your
service station or mechanic. You could have misaligned wheels, worn shock absorbers,
or other potential problems. Make sure your tires
are aligned and balanced properly.
Don't drive at a high
rate of speed for a long time, particularly in
hot weather. Obey posted speed limits.
Lower speeds also mean better gas mileage.
Summer storms
Summer storms can crop up suddenly and present substantial
hazards on the road. Follow these safety tips when
severe weather hits:
Flash flooding: When driving, know the depth of water
in a dip before crossing. Be aware that the road
bed may not be intact under the water. If the vehicle
stalls, abandon it immediately; seek higher ground.
Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its
occupants and sweep them away.
Tornadoes: Leave your vehicle, and go to a substantial
shelter. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat
in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert with your
hands shielding your head. Be alert for rapidly rising
waters in the ditch.
Rain: Get tips for handling skids
and hydroplaning
Protecting children and pets
On hot days, the temperature inside vehicles can
climb rapidly and may exceed 100 degrees. Be very
careful with children and pets -- even when you're
at home and the car is parked.
Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even
with the windows down.
Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars.
Always lock car doors and trunks -- even at home
-- and keep keys out of children's reach.
Always make sure all child passengers have left
the car when you reach your destination. Don't overlook
sleeping infants.
When securing your child in a safety restraint system
in a car that has been parked in the heat, check
to make sure seating surfaces and equipment (child
safety seat and safety belt buckles) aren't too hot.
Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked
car. Consider using shades on windows.
Air quality
Summer sunshine, heat and car exhaust create a
toxic cocktail -- ozone pollution. Ozone can cause
respiratory problems and even permanent lung damage.
Here are some steps you can take to cut down on
pollution when you drive:
Drive less, especially during peak traffic periods
or hot days.
Avoid revving or idling engine over 30 seconds.
Fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut
down on evaporation.
Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.
Winterize Your Car
Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and
ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous
road conditions, hot tempers and unforeseen
dangers. To help you make it safely through
winter, here are some suggestions from the
National Safety Council to make sure that you
and your vehicle are prepared.
Weather
At any temperature -- 20° Fahrenheit below
zero or 90° Fahrenheit above -- weather
affects road and driving conditions and can
pose serious problems. It is important to
monitor forecasts on the Web, radio, TV,
cable weather channel, or in the daily papers.
Your Car
Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup
that includes:
Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses
and fan belts. Changing and adjusting the spark plugs. Checking
the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV
valve. Inspecting the distributor.
Checking the battery.
Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and
tread depth. Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line.
Your car should have a tune-up (check the
owner's manual for the recommended interval)
to ensure better gas mileage, quicker starts
and faster response on pick-up and passing
power.
Necessary Equipment
An emergency situation on the road can arise
at any time and you must be prepared. In
addition to making sure you have the tune-up,
a full tank of gas, and fresh anti-freeze,
you should carry the following items in your
trunk:
Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench
and tripod-type jack Shovel
Jumper cables
Tow and tire chains
Bag of salt or cat litter
Tool kit
Essential Supplies
Be prepared with a "survival kit" that
should always remain in the car. Replenish
after use. Essential supplies include:
Working flashlight and extra batteries
Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth
Compass
First aid kit
Exterior windshield cleaner
Ice scraper and snow brush
Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container
Scissors and string/cord
Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted
canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy.
In addition,
if you are driving long distances under cold,
snowy, and icy conditions, you should also carry
supplies to keep you warm such as heavy woolen
mittens, socks, a cap and blankets.
If You Become Stranded...
Do not leave your car unless you know exactly
where you are, how far it is to possible
help, and are certain you will improve your
situation.
To attract attention, light two flares and
place one at each end of the car a safe distance
away. Hang a brightly colored cloth from your
antenna.
If you are sure the car's exhaust pipe is
not blocked, run the engine and heater for
about 10 minutes every hour or so depending
upon the amount of gas in the tank.
To protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia
use the woolen items and blankets to keep warm.
Keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy
snow and ice can seal a car shut.
Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist.
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Weather Service, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Federal Citizen Information Center,
Washington State SAFE KIDS Coalition |
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