Keeping Your Chevy in Shape

Summer is the perfect time to show off your Chevy, but the Texas heat can be damaging to your ride. Here are 5 tips to keep your Chevy in shape.

Keep your engine cool.

Cooling systems protect engines from overheating and should be flushed often. Between flushes, make sure the coolant is filled to the correct level by checking the overflow reservoir.

Make sure your battery is prepared for high temperatures.

Heat and vibration are a battery’s worst enemies, leading to internal breakdown and eventual failure. While you can’t do much about the heat in Texas, you can make sure your battery is securely mounted to minimize vibration.

Keep your tires inflated.

Driving on under-inflated tires can cause tires to overheat and increase the likelihood of a blowout, especially when road temperatures are extremely high. Check your car’s tire pressures (including the spare) at least once a month.

Keep fluids are at appropriate levels.

When fluid levels are low, the cooling effect is reduced, which increases the possibility of overheating. Periodically check all vehicle fluids, including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering and brake fluid, to ensure they are at appropriate levels.

Be prepared for summer breakdowns.

Even with preventive maintenance, summer breakdowns can still occur, so drivers should have a well-stocked emergency kit in their car. Kits should include water, non-perishable food items, jumper cables, a flashlight, road flares, basic hand tools and a first aid kit.