The state of Ohio may not be in a tropical zone, but it can still get pretty hot here. Summer temperatures routinely climb into the 90s, and they sometimes hit the triple digits. When the unrelenting rays of the sun start to beat down, your car could begin to heat up as well, and that is bad for your engine.
Driving an overheating car for just a few miles could result in serious engine damage and a big repair bill for your trouble. As with so many things automotive, the best way to deal with an overheating car is to prevent the problem in the first place. Here are some timely tips to keep your car cool in the Ohio heat.
Avoid Unnecessary Warm-Ups
Modern vehicles do not need the long warm-up periods their predecessors did, so just get in and go. Allowing your car to warm up too long and idle too much could cause the temperature gauge to go into the red, and you do not want to risk it.
Leaving your car running with the AC on while you do other things is another common cause of overheating. By the time you climb into the car, the temperature gauge could already be dipping into the red.
Let Your Car Cool Down
If you are running a bunch of errands and constantly starting and restarting your car, it is easy for the temperature to creep up, especially if the air temps are already high. That is why it is so important to let your car cool down between errands.
Instead of driving from store to store, park your car in a central location and walk from place to place. You will get some much-needed exercise, and your car will get a chance to cool down.
Beware of Heavy Traffic
Being stuck in heavy traffic is never fun, but in the summer it can be bad for your engine. Prolonged idling in stop and go traffic can cause your temperatures to spike, resulting in engine damage and a big repair bill.
Plan your trip intelligently, and try to avoid congested roadways and spots that have a tendency to back up. As an Ohio resident, you probably know where those problem spots are, so do what you can to avoid them.
It is not easy to keep your cool in the summer heat, and that goes double for your car. If you want your engine to last, you need to fight the heat, and the tips listed above can help you stop your vehicle from overheating – no matter how high the mercury rises.
