What Does the Hot Weather Do to Your Car?

June 2, 2020 Published by Writer Leave your thoughts

Now that winter is in our rearview mirror, it won’t be long before west Texas is bathed in the oppressive heat. You may not have stopped to think about it, but you’ve probably noticed in years past that when the temperature begins to skyrocket, your car or truck starts to behave differently. Well, you weren’t wrong. Heat does have a significant impact on your vehicle.

Before you hit the road this summer, it might be a good idea to put your car through automotive testing in Lubbock, TX. Here’s why.

Your tires hate the summer

When the temperature begins to rise, the air inside your tires begins to expand. While you’re unlikely to notice these changes with the naked eye, your car feels the difference. Not only do over-inflated tires reduce your ability to effectively handle the vehicle, but they can also make your tires more prone to popping or blowing out.

As a result, it’s critical that you routinely check the air pressure in your tires throughout the year, but it’s doubly important that you do so during hot weather.

The engine runs hotter

This may go without saying, but your engine has a tough time working efficiently when it’s hot outside. The hotter your engine runs, the more likely there will be issues with the performance of your vehicle. Take some basic steps to prevent overheating:

An overheating engine can take a toll on your engine’s coolant, using it up quickly. Therefore, before you do any driving, make sure your coolant is topped off.
During the summer, the higher temperatures will thin out the oil in your vehicle. That compromises your oil’s ability to do its job. You can replace your engine’s oil with a thicker alternative to counteract this effect.

If your engine continues to run hot, it’s a good idea to enlist a pro for some automotive testing in Lubbock, TX.

The AC wants to quit (desperately)

Most of us don’t pay much attention to the air conditioning in our cars during the winter months. That can turn out to be a problem. The warmer the weather, the harder your air conditioner needs to work to keep you comfortable while driving. There’s only one way to make sure your AC is capable of getting you through the hot summer months: take it to a professional and have them inspect it.

The pros you can count on

It’s never a bad idea to put your car through a round of automotive testing in Lubbock, TX before you take to the road. And when that time arrives, there’s no better team to trust than M & M Tire & Service Center. We have more than four decades of experience helping our valued customers with a wide variety of services, including AC repair, a complete line of tire services, comprehensive engine repair, oil changes, suspension work and so much more.

When you come to M & M Tire & Service Center, you can rely on us to get your car back in great shape and back on the road. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you!