Tom's Corner Garage: Avoiding Summer 'Meltdowns'
This weekly feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio.
The summer heat can do a lot of damage to your car and much of it can be avoided. During the hot weather I field more questions pertaining to belts, hoses, and transmissions. These parts are susceptible to towing and higher temperatures and can suffer from "heat exhaustion." In addition, the extra heat can shorten the life of your engine and tranny. Here's some areas to look out for as temps climb:
Belts: Drive belts are made of rubber so they can dry up, crack, and break. Add summer heat to the equation, as well as increased stress from using the air conditioner and the "breakage factor" multiplies significantly. Have the belts checked and adjusted during this season. In the case of serpentine belts, have the automatic tension adjuster checked for integrity.
Hoses: The radiator and heater hoses carry the engine coolant, which is forced through the hoses under high pressure at high temperatures. This harsh environment causes deterioration of the hose material resulting in coolant leaks. Have the integrity of the hoses checked regularly throughout the summer.
Brakes: Brake shoes and pads are designed to create friction in order to stop the motion of the wheels. This friction causes intense heat which, when added to the high summer temps, can be likened to a blast furnace attached to your wheels! Have the brakes checked during the hot weather (every tire rotation or 6,000 miles). Keep fresh friction material on your brakes and they will last a lot longer.
Engine: Have the cooling system checked every six months, preferable just before the hot weather hits. A proper cooling system analysis consists of:
- Cooling system pressure test, including the radiator cap. Repair any leaks.
- Antifreeze protection test
- Check the condition of the hoses and belts. Replace any soft or brittle hoses and cracked belts. Tighten all loose hose connections.
- Flow test: check the coolant flow and coolant temperature.
Transmission: Your car's transmission operates under tremendous heat. Many of the internal parts are referred to as "soft parts." These soft parts consist of the rubber seals and clutches (made of a soft friction material much like brake shoes and pads). The transmission is cooled by a transmission oil cooler located either in the car's radiator, or affixed to it. Overheat the transmission and ugly things start to happen. How can you overheat a transmission?:
Neglecting scheduled services: The transmission should be serviced every 25-30 thousand miles (recommended intervals vary by manufacturer). Service means changing the transmission fluid and filter. Transmissions develop wear material that is caught in the filter. As the filter fills with this material, the flow of fluid slows, causing the transmission to heat up. The increased temps break down the fluid's viscosity (ability to lubricate and cool). The overall increase in friction and heat wears out the transmission prematurely.
Overworking the transmission without adequate cooling capacity: How many times have you seen a car or truck pulling a boat larger than itself during the summer months when outside temperature exceeds 90 degrees? Transmissions heat up from overwork because fluid is pushed through the system at a rate too fast for it to release the heat it absorbs. Friction and heat build up and the transmission is history. The best way to avoid this problem is to get an auxiliary transmission oil cooler installed. To keep your transmission in good health:
- Perform the manufacturer's suggested scheduled maintenance, consisting of fluid and filter changes. Rule of thumb: every 25-30 thousand miles.
- Don't overwork the transmission by overloading the car.
- Have an auxiliary transmission oil cooler installed if you are going to haul a trailer or carry heavy loads.
Click here for more info on routine service to help your ride survive the summer heat.
'Til next time...Keep Rollin'
- Posted by
- Paul Seredynski June 3, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Car Maintenance
- Technorati Tags:
- Car maintenance, Summer car care
Off topic but....... this photo is sooooo cheesy! I think I recognize it - straight from the F150 promo stuff. Funny!
Truck looks good though - IMO.(oh and ummm...so does "mom").
Ah, summer weather. I keep a gas log book in my visor and swapped out the pen that lives in the book a couple of weeks ago. Then I parked my car outside for a couple of days while spring cleaning the garage, and didn't drive for a couple of days.
Now I have some nice blue ink blobs on my black leather seats - the heat was too much for the pen. At least the car is 12 years old, so it's not like the first ding or scar it's suffered.
Heat is also hard on batteries.