It’s all over the news; the 40ºC UK heatwave has us all set to sweat!
Remember this time last year, when Lincolnshire set a record-breaking high temperature for the UK of 40.3ºC? Well, it looks like our new normal for summertime is the same as Dubai’s.
Weather forecasters are predicting the hot spell to come around the middle to end of July,
and to last for two weeks. This could stress the UK’s water services, food supply, schools,
public transport, power supplies, and practically everything else we rely on daily.
And that includes our cars. Extreme heat causes an increase in the number of breakdowns, with seven cars breaking down every minute during the UK’s last summer heatwave event. We’re not exactly prepared for this kind of heat in the UK, where summer highs of around 30ºC are enough to make us complain. The temperate climate we’ve had for centuries seems to be shifting into something more extreme – with wild winters and blistering hot summers. This is going to make driving more challenging as we adjust to the heat. But, we’ve got to keep going about our lives, even if it is mighty hot! So, we’ve prepared some tips for driving in heatwaves, to keep you and your car safe in the sun.
1. PREPARE
Make sure you’ve got water, a phone charger, tow rope, a first aid kit and a warning triangle
in your car whenever you’re on the road. Any one of these things could become your saviour
when you break down in a heatwave – but water’s the one to prioritise.
Check your engine coolant and oil level before you set off, and make sure you’ve got plenty
of screenwash. Heatwaves make bugs reproduce like crazy, and if you happen to be driving
on “flying ant day”, your windscreen can become a smeared mess in minutes.
2. COOL IT!
Before setting off, your car is probably going to be oven hot on the inside, so much so that
you could actually get a burn off the metal seat belt buckle on a very hot day! The first thing
to do is let all that heat out before you try your car aircon – it’ll make cooling more effective
and fast. Open all the windows to let the trapped heat escape, then blast the AC.
If at all possible, park in the shade to avoid the oven scenario, or use a windscreen shade to
mitigate it. To keep the sun off, try to wear lightweight cotton clothing (white clothing reflects
the most heat) as an extra way to keep cool.
3. WATCH OUT FOR AN OVERHEATING ENGINE
Engines can overheat for lots of reasons – and the only way to really stay on top of this is by getting a car service regularly, to knock problems associated with overheating on the head.
But it is true that unusually hot weather can contribute to more car breakdowns due to overheating. Signs of overheating can be spotted with your senses; you might hear thumping, feel excessively hot, see smoke or steam coming from the bonnet – and notice less power being produced by the engine.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAR ENGINE OVERHEATS
Ideally, you should pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so, to prevent permanent damage to
the engine. Keep the engine running, but turn off the AC. Then, open all the windows, and
put the heater on max – this will transfer the heat from the engine out of the car faster.
Be careful of topping up the coolant when the engine is overheating. It’ll be hot and under
pressure – and burns are possible. Roadside assistance might be the best course of action,
but if you decide to do this yourself, you’ve been warned! Go slowly, and use a rage to open
the radiator cap to protect your hands from steam burns. As with just about everything, prevention is better than a cure. Before the hot weather strikes, book in a car service and get prepared for driving in a heatwave!
GET YOUR CAR SERVICED IN EASTLEIGH
Keep your cool. Book your full car service with Master Tech Autos, to prevent breakdowns,
and to keep your car aircon smelling fresh and working normally.
Call us on 023 8061 1161 or book online today!