Summer Driving: Oil Selection, Best Practices, and Maintenance Tips

Summer driving presents unique challenges for your vehicle, and proper oil selection and maintenance are key to ensuring a smooth and trouble-free experience. The increased temperatures and potential for longer journeys put extra strain on your engine, making regular maintenance crucial. Choosing the right oil is a significant factor. You might find our guide on understanding viscosity grades helpful in navigating the various options.

Choosing the Right Oil

The type of oil you choose will depend on your vehicle's make, model, and year. Always consult your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations. Typically, you'll see recommendations for either conventional, synthetic blend, or full synthetic oils. Each has its own properties and benefits, so making the right decision is essential. A poorly selected oil, even if you stick to the recommended type, can hurt performance if it doesn't match the climate. For further exploration into synthetic oil benefits check out our dedicated article Synthetic Oil Benefits.

One important consideration is the oil's viscosity grade (like 5W-30 or 10W-40). This rating describes how thick or thin the oil is at different temperatures. During the summer months, selecting an oil with a slightly higher viscosity can be beneficial, better preventing oil breakdown. For more information about viscosity and extreme temperatures check out this useful article on extreme temperature applications.

Maintenance Best Practices

Beyond oil selection, other maintenance practices are crucial during summer. Regular oil changes according to the recommended schedule in your owner's manual are paramount. In addition to checking the oil level using your dipstick, remember to:

• Check Your Coolant Levels
• Inspect Your Belts and Hoses
• Check your tire pressure regularly, as temperatures affect tire pressure. Under-inflated tires will result in decreased fuel efficiency, poor handling and faster tire wear, something to really consider in summer.

Following these preventative maintenance practices can help reduce risks. Driving carefully will also keep things simple!

Conclusion

By selecting the right oil and performing regular maintenance, you can ensure your vehicle is prepared for the demands of summer driving. This will improve your driving comfort and minimize your risk of suffering breakdown, in this time of stress. Remember to always check your vehicle's documentation to get the latest advice. This should always come from trusted manufacturers and maintainers.