When the sun comes out, most of us think about keeping ourselves cool. But while we’re reaching for sunglasses and cold drinks, our cars are also feeling the effects of rising temperatures.
Modern vehicles are designed to cope with warm weather, but prolonged periods of heat can still affect everything from your tyres to your battery. The good news is that a few simple checks can help you stay one step ahead.
Here are five hidden ways hot weather can affect your car.
1. Your tyre pressure can change
As temperatures rise, so does the air pressure inside your tyres. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a problem, but tyres that are already overinflated can become even firmer during a heatwave. On the other hand, underinflated tyres may wear more quickly and affect handling.
Checking your tyre pressures every couple of weeks – and before a longer journey – is one of the simplest ways to help keep your car performing as it should.
2. Your battery works harder than you might think
Cold weather is often blamed for flat batteries, but hot weather can be just as demanding. High temperatures can speed up chemical reactions inside the battery, causing it to wear more quickly over time. Heat can also increase the rate at which battery fluid evaporates, particularly in older batteries.
If your battery is already nearing the end of its life, a heatwave could expose an issue that wasn’t obvious before.
3. Your engine has to keep its cool
Your engine naturally generates a lot of heat while you’re driving. In hot weather, the cooling system has to work even harder to keep everything at the right temperature. That’s why it’s important to make sure your coolant is at the correct level (although you should wait until the engine has cooled before topping up), and to keep an eye on your temperature gauge during longer journeys.
If your engine ever starts overheating, it’s safest to stop somewhere suitable as soon as it’s safe to do so and allow it to cool before investigating further.
4. Your car can get hotter than you realise
Even on a pleasantly warm day, the inside of a parked car can heat up surprisingly quickly. That’s why it’s important never to leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short time.
Using a windscreen sunshade where possible, parking in the shade and allowing hot air to escape before setting off can all help make driving more comfortable.
5. Small windscreen chips can become bigger problems
A tiny stone chip might not seem like much, but hot weather can sometimes make existing damage worse. As the glass heats up and cools down, it naturally expands and contracts. If there’s already a weak point in the windscreen, that movement can increase the chance of a crack developing.
It’s another reason why it’s worth dealing with small chips early, before they turn into larger repairs.
Stay cool – and keep your car cool too
Most cars cope perfectly well with warm weather, but a little preparation can make all the difference. Checking your tyres, keeping an eye on your battery, topping up your coolant and dealing with small windscreen chips are small jobs, but it can help you avoid unwanted surprises on the road.
And if you’re making the most of the sunshine with a spontaneous day out or weekend away, Veygo’s flexible cover is designed around real-life plans, making it easy to get protected and enjoy wherever the road takes you.
