car care tips from a fellow Q member, otep. see highlighted area.
Inquirer Money / Features
http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20100309-257657/Summer-heat-no-picnic-for-your-car
Summer heat no picnic for your car
By Tessa Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: March 09, 2010
MANILA, Philippines--You may be celebrating this dry season as being perfect
for your car. And why wouldn’t you? The last rainy season only brought a
flood of despair to thousands of cars all over the country, leading its
hapless owners to believe that water is the enemy.
But as motorists pack up and head for cooler climes and watery destinations
this hotter-than-usual summer, do remember that the extreme heat is also not
a car’s best friend. When midday temperatures hit 40 degrees C this summer
(and this is most likely to happen, what with the El Niño weather phenomenon
blowing away all rainclouds in this part of Asia), many parts of your car
will suffer if exposed to heat for too long.
Inquirer Motoring asked the experts what parts of a car would be most
vulnerable to extremely dry and hot weather. These experts are also
“extreme” in their fields of expertise: multi-titled champion JP Tuason,
Tuason Racing School president; Toyota Motor Philippines’ vice president for
customer service operations Vitaliano Mamawal III, *Isuzu Philippines’
product development head Joseph Bautista*, and Kaycee Crisostomo, corporate
communications manager of Robert Bosch Inc., the world’s largest supplier of
automotive technologies.
*Quick engine ‘cooldown’*
JP said the hottest spot in any car would obviously be inside the engine
bay. How hot? JP said his team at TRS has subjected countless racing cars to
all types of driving extremes, some to the point of melting components in
the engine bay. This heat, he relates, can be so intense (especially with
turbocharged engines) that it can penetrate the passenger and driver cabins
and “cook” them.
“Hoses and plastic parts are vulnerable to absorbing heat and going through
heat cycles. The more heat cycles they go through the more brittle they
become. This can lead to many problems, like engine overheating if a
radiator hose fails. I suggest after using your car for the day open the
hood for a few minutes to allow the components in the engine bay to cool
down quickly.”
JP also reminds motorists to pay special attention to the car’s radiator and
its hoses. An improperly working radiator or a cracked or leaking hose can
cause the car to overheat. Tires should also be checked. Worn-out tires are
more prone to blowouts caused by extreme temperature cycles.
*Wipers at risk*
Kaycee reveals that a car’s wipers are also most vulnerable to extremely hot
weather. Wipers damaged by heat can become brittle and scratch the
windshield. He said it is important that when one purchases wipers for his
car to choose a pair that is built with a “tropicalized” rubber compound.
Kaycee also revealed that the Bosch Car Service workshop also frequently
changes auxiliary fans during summer, together with radiator caps and engine
thermostats. Auxiliary fans, Kaycee explains, work overtime during summer,
as they are more frequently triggered into operation by temperature sensors.
The fans’ performance is weakened due to deterioration, thus compromising
the cooling efficiency of the engine and the car’s air-conditioning system
as well.
It is thus recommended to double your check of your car’s cooling systems
this season.
Dry-charge batteries (non-maintenance-free) also need more frequent
electrolyte top-ups, Kaycee reveals. Lower electrolyte levels will expose
the plates and will weaken its capacity to store electrical energy, which
may eventually lead to damage and eventual need for battery replacement.
External and exposed panels like hoods, roofs and door panels, as well as
dashboards are also likely to deteriorate under extreme heat, most
especially when sunlight dries moisture on it.
The Bosch Car Service workshop recommends the following vehicle safety
checks on vital components: Braking systems, tires, cooling systems,
batteries, ignition and energy (alternator) systems, and fluids (engine oil,
coolants and brake fluid). Kaycee announced a two-day Bosch Car Clinic on
March 27 and 28 at The Fort Entertainment Plaza parking lot (in front of NBC
Tent)-just in time for the long Holy Week break. The Clinic will provide
free diagnostic services, as well as free labor on a variety of safety
checks and maintenance services.
Check up before ‘exodus’
Speaking of that Holy Week “exodus,” before you all start packing everything
in and driving in a huff (and puff) for the provinces, do bear in mind that
your car should be ready for a long, hot trip inside and out. You can
achieve this by following your car’s preventive maintenance schedule.
“We generally follow the recommended Preventive Maintenance System package.
These cover all critical items for a safe and reliable summer driving
experience,” said Mamawal.
Mamawal reminds Toyota owners to have their engine oil changed according to
schedule; fluid top ups for brakes and coolants; fan belts properly
tensioned; periodic cleaning of air conditioning systems; brake pads
inspected, and; air filters cleaned or replaced. Air filters, in particular,
should be more frequently cleaned or replaced during dry and dusty months.
The cosmetic effects of extremely hot weather conditions, Mamawal adds, may
involve the body paint. Quality paints hold up well during these times;
otherwise, these will crack or fade. Poor types of adhesives used on
aftermarket accessories may melt.
Mamawal said that, for its part, Toyota will offer summer motorist
assistance stations at strategic points in northern and southern Luzon. It
will also offer emergency services for free. Toyota will also make available
safety checks for Toyota owners for free at all its dealers prior to the
Holy Week break.
*‘DIY’*
Bautista, for his part, adds that other critical parts of your vehicle that
ought to be inspected include: spark plugs and points; V-belt and water
hoses; wheel bearings and steering; shock absorbers; and lighting systems.
He said the vehicle owners themselves can conduct several checks on their
own. One of the most important in this regard is the condition of your
tires. Is there enough tread depth left on all tires, even for the spare
one? There should be at least 4 mm of tread depth left for a safe holiday
trip (while the law requires only 1.6 mm). Are there visible damages, such
as cracks, cuts or bulges? You should replace them with new tires when there
are, even if the treads still look good.
Your car will most likely be traveling heavy, so increase the tire
pressures. This practice would have a favorable effect on grip, driving
stability and braking efficiency, as well as improving fuel mileage.
Never treat your car like an overworked donkey. Sort out carefully about
what you really need to take. The permitted load is the difference between
the unladen weight and the gross vehicle weight rating (check your vehicle
papers for this information). To be absolutely certain, you can weigh your
luggage on your bathroom scales, taking into account the total weight of the
passengers going along.
Surfboards, mountain bikes and other bulky sports equipment should be stowed
on the roof. Use certified roof racks for carrying luggage on the roof.
Don’t place unsecured objects on the rear shelf. They represent a potential
risk of fatal injury if you have to brake in an emergency or if you have an
accident. Even at 40 kph, objects are thrown forward with a force equal to
twenty times their own weight, rendering them dangerous missiles.
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