Summer holidays concentrate millions of long-distance trips on Spanish roads, but the heat is not something we can ignore. Not only because of the effect it can have on us as drivers, but also on the behavior and mechanics of the car.
The heat allows us to do many things that we cannot do during other times of the year. And summer is usually synonymous with holidays. All together, in the hottest months there are more trips by car, especially long-distance to vacation destinations.
But summer in Spain inevitably includes enduring temperatures above 30ºC and, from time to time, heat waves that take thermometers up to 40 ºC in many parts of the country. This is not only annoying for us, but during a trip it can make life very complicated if we do not prepare properly.
The same goes for the car in which we travel, which will have to deal with very high temperatures and a mechanical requirement equally extreme in all its components, whether the journey takes place on the motorway (high speeds sustained over time) or on secondary roads (acceleration and braking, changes of direction, irregularities).
Prepare the car for the heat wave
We start with the advice we can give you to minimize the chances of having a breakdown in your car if you are going to travel during a heat wave.
As you well know, although temperatures are high in summer, during a heat wave they become extreme, so any component of your vehicle that is not in good condition can fail.
Check levels
As in any trip, looking at the levels of the car is vital to avoid scares. But in this case even more and with special attention to oil and coolantbecause keeping the engine temperature under control is the basis of any successful trip.
During the trip, not only are you likely to drive at high speed for quite some time, which undoubtedly puts the engine to the limit, but you can also run into traffic jams that force you to stop with the engine running. In that case, the correct lubrication and operation of the cooling system are the only thing that will prevent a breakdown.
MOTOR COUNCIL.ES
If you run the engine excessively low, the water pump will move less volume of liquid and cooling will be less effective. Stop immediately if you see the temperature rise
In any case, do not forget to check the following levels:
- Oil
- coolant
- steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- windshield washer fluid
Air-conditioning
It goes without saying how important it is to have air conditioning in your car during the summer. In Spain, the difference between not having it is basically between suffer the unspeakable or travel peacefully.
But if you have it and it doesn’t work for you, it’s of little use. Furthermore, they usually spend many months since last use that we gave it the previous fall or summer, so some things can fail (especially the system seals).
Another mistake we often make is turning off the car engine with the air conditioning on. This causes a sudden stop in the compressor, which creates unnecessary stress that will eventually lead to breakdowns. Turn off the air conditioning first, then the engine.
Thus, check that it cools properly and do not get lost this article in which we tell you the keys to keep it in good condition. And do not forget replace or clean the cabin filter to avoid allergies or loss of cooling power.
tires and brakes
Tires suffer a lot in summer and more on trips. They endure many kilometers and more weight than normal at high temperatures, so it is vital:
- Maintain proper pressure
- Check that there are no dents, cuts or defects that generate blowouts when the pressure rises due to the heat
- Avoid strong impacts with potholes, sinkholes, curbs, etc.
As for the brakes, and ignoring the fact that they must be in good condition, the main problem can be found if we travel by mountain passes, since severe use can cause the dreaded fading. Keep this in mind if you are going to drive down a mountain pass with many curves.
the turbo
We end with a very important trick for the durability of cars with turbocharged engines, which are usually the majority today.
In reality, the problem that can occur is similar to that of the air conditioning compressor and it is advice that we give you for the whole year, not just during the summer.
The turbo incorporates a turbine that rotates at high speed to blow pressurized air into the engine. In many cases we are talking about 100,000 revolutions per minute, so the heat generated is very high.
If we turn off the engine as soon as we stop after a long time driving at high speed (and the turbo working), we will cause a abrupt stop of the turbine and we will not have given time for the heat to dissipate. This, over time, is a sure failure and a lot of money to repair.
To avoid this, just keep the engine running at idle for 30 seconds or one minute before turning off the engine. In this way, the turbine stops completely and the heat is partially dissipated, thus avoiding unnecessary overexertion.
Driving comfortably during the heat wave
We have already reviewed the main points to take into account when traveling during a heat wave from a mechanical point of view.
But it is also essential that you, as a driver, be in the best possible condition to maximize your skills and attention behind the wheel. Let’s see some tips about it.
The time of the trip and the passenger compartment
There is no doubt that the temperature you are in and also the level of fatigue you have will depend a lot on the time of day you travel.
If you travel at night, the temperature will be very bearable for you and your vehicle, but you may be too tired or your eyesight makes you drive more insecure. In the case of doing so, we recommend that you read this article in which we analyze how to travel safely at night.
Regardless of that, try to avoid the hottest hours of the day (between 3 and 7 p.m.) and, above all, right after eating or when you normally take a nap, if at all. At that time, and almost inevitably, you will feel heavier and sleepier.
As for the passenger compartment, maintain a temperature of between 21 and 23ºC so as not to get overheated and avoid, as much as possible, carrying loads that make you uncomfortable, reduce visibility or could be dangerous in the event of braking or an accident.
The windowslowered as soon as the air conditioning begins to cool to prevent heat from entering, consuming more fuel and insects or other elements present on the road from entering.
Sunglasses, footwear and clothing
It is very important to travel comfortably, so we advise you to choose comfortable and fresh clothes that allows you to move freely and does not give you more heat than necessary. The same thing happens with shoes, but it is very important that they hold your foot well to avoid unsafe situations because a pedal slips or something similar. Also, they can fine you if you don’t.
Sunglasses are also important, especially if you are traveling during sunrise or sunset, when the sun is still low and can dazzle you. During the central hours of the day it will also help your eyes to tire less by reducing the light intensity of the sun.
Food, drink and rest
We have already anticipated it before, but we repeat it: avoid copious meals or even travel after the midday meal. Better something light that does not burden your stomach and provokes you drowsiness.
Bring cool drinks hydrate regularly and try to schedule stops to rest if the trip is very long. Do not forget that the recommendation always speaks of doing it every two hours or 200 kilometers. It not only allows us to rest, but also to stretch our legs, back, etc.
driving posture
Last but not least, take care of your driving position to avoid excessive fatigue or pain as the miles go by.
You already know that it is important to keep the right distance in relation to the steering wheel (wrists on the rim when fully stretching the arms) so as not to tire ourselves too much and maintain agility in movements, as well as choosing a Reasonable backrest angleneither too upright nor excessively lying down.
Finally, the headrest it must allow us to support the head in its center and the upper seat belt anchorage in the central pillar of the car must be at eye level.
With all these tips, you will have all the ballots to complete your trip without problems during the heat wave. Of course, you already know that attention and caution are everything on the road, never forget it.