High Desert Auto Care: 7 Tips to Keep Your Car Running Great
Living in or near a desert brings with it its own unique set of challenges. Deserts are definitely majestic to look at but there is a lot of dust to contend with.
All of this dust can harm your vehicle. To reduce the impact of the desert on your vehicle, you will need to know some high desert auto care tips.
The dust and the dry air can cause major issues with your car. This means that your car has a lot to deal with. Thankfully, with a few care tips, you can keep your car looking and performing its best.
1. Replace Your Filters
Your car filters are situated in the main intake of your vehicle. When you drive your car in the desert, the air filters will accumulate dust faster than they would in regular circumstances.
This can cause your engine not to receive as much air as it should. This will affect the car's gas mileage. It will also affect the horsepower that your engine can generate.
All this translates into you having to burn extra gas and pay more for fuel, all while your engine is under-performing. If one of your filters becomes extremely dirty, particles of dust can get into the motor of the car. This means you need to frequently check the central section of your air filter.
If things are not looking good, then install a new filter. When you live in a desert, you should replace your air filter every six months.
2. Coolant Levels
A lot of dust can get into your radiator when you constantly have to travel over sandy roads. Sand can decrease the function of your car's fan.
You should regularly remove sand from all the lines that are connected to your radiator. Make sure that you have sufficient coolant on hand at all times. If your radiator does not contain the right amount of fluid, the heat can damage your car's head gasket.
Besides, depending on the material that your head gasket is made from, it will have a greater chance of weakening sooner. If your head gasket is made from aluminium, it will expand faster when heated. If it is made from a metal that has a higher thermal expansion rate than aluminium, it will probably last longer.
3. Windshield Wiper Fluid
If your wipers are dirty and they rub against the dry surface of your windshield, it will cause the glass to crack or get scratched.
In the desert, there is no way to avoid getting dirt on your windshield. It accumulates not only on the windshield but on the wipers as well.
The only way to combat this is to add a generous amount of windshield wiper fluid. This will make it easier to remove any excess sand that is likely to build-up on your windshield.
You can make windshield wiper fluid yourself to help cut down on the cost. This way, you will always have a lot available.
4. High Desert Auto Care Means Getting the Right Tires
All-weather tires are a great investment because they have strong threads. These tires make it easy for your vehicle to drive safely and smoothly on roads that contain a lot of soft sand.
All-weather tires also make it easier to drive over rocks. They are a great investment as they improve the traction of your vehicle especially when you travel over large holes.
5. Brake Fluid
Make sure that you check the brake fluid regularly. You should also inspect the brake lines frequently.
Rocks in the desert can cause small holes to develop in the brake lines that will decrease the level of brake fluid available. If rocks have damaged the connectors to the vehicle's brake line, your brake fluid could be leaking and this can severely impact your safety in the vehicle.
6. Use the Right Kind of Oil
Motor oil is one of the most important things for the smooth functioning of your vehicle. It is especially important when you live in a desert. Motor oils that contain a high viscosity will lubricate your engine the best in these situations.
When you get an oil change ask your mechanic for the most suitable oil you can get for the climate you are in. Check your oil more frequently than is normally recommended. This is because the desert climate is more apt to produce dirt and debris.
7. Take Care of Your Battery
Due to the high levels of heat in the desert, your battery can be adversely affected. The heat will cause fluids from your battery to evaporate, this can cause a lot of damage.
In some instances, the battery may be unrepairable. This means that you will have to spend money to replace the battery.
You can always check the battery's current condition as long as it is a serviceable kind of battery. If the battery is serviceable there will be caps on it that you can loosen with a screwdriver. You can then check the internal fluid.
Check if water is inside the battery. If you do not see any water inside, this means the battery is running dry. All you have to do is top it up with some water from the pipe.
Hit the Road
You now have the best high desert auto care tips at your disposal. Living in the desert or around a desert certainly has interesting moments.
However, if you want to keep your vehicle in the best shape, you have to be especially diligent because there are unique desert auto care tips that you will have to carry out to maintain your vehicle.
Once you consistently maintain your vehicle you should have no trouble keeping it in good working order.
If you would like help with your car's battery, do not hesitate to contact us. We will help you keep this important piece of equipment in good working order.