6 Summer Motoring Problems & how to deal with them

The Great British Summer is almost upon us and it looks to be on top form. Inconsistent temperatures, spontaneous torrential downpours and, of course, puffy red eyes and stuffed up noses for the Hay Fever suffers, but it’s not all doom and gloom!

Some of the best driving experiences can be had when taking to the road during the summer and these quick tips will help you on your way.

Overheating Engines

As temperatures rise you need to make sure that it stays cool under that hood. It’s time to make sure that your coolant is topped up and keptfresh to avoid overheating and engine failure, especially if you are taking your vehicle to warmer climates.

We recommend our products from the Antifreeze and Coolant Range, diluted as per your owner’s manual to keepyour engine as cool as a cucumber.

Punctures and Blowouts

If you’re off on holiday this summer, chances are you are carrying a lot more weight than usual.

This combined with higher temperatures means that tyres take a lot of flak when we pop off on our summer excursions. Heat aggravates any existing damage toyour tyres, and if your tyres aren’t inflated properly the chances of a puncture or a blowout increases significantly. Make sure to check the health of yourtyres before hitting the road.

Do the 20p test to ensure that the tread depth is at least 1.6mm and consideradjusting your tyre pressure to compensate for anyextra load you might be carrying.

Summer Thunderstorms
If there’s one word to describe the weather during the British Summer, it’s changeable.

Heavy rainstorms can appear from nowhere decreasing visibility and causing slippery driving conditions in aninstant. When it’s bucketing it down you need to be sure that your wipers can handle the extra workload. Take time to make sure that they are in good nick – that the rubber is intact and that it makes constantcontact with the windscreen.

If your wiper blades are squeaking, leaving streaks and smears or missing bits thenyou should replace them. You might also consider giving your wiper bladesa helping hand with Rain-X® Rain Repellent to improve wet weather visibility.


Glare
So the sun’s decided to make a rare appearance – that’s great but intense sunlight, especially straight after a summer shower can cause glare and dangerous driving conditions. Make sure you are prepared by keeping a pair of sunglasses to hand just in case.

Dirt and grime on the windshield can also catch sunlight and impair vision. Give your windows a quick once over before you set off and remove any smears or smudges with a cleaner which won’tleave streaks behind such as Granville’s Glass Cleaner.


Hay Fever
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming – oh and the pollen count is sky high!

If you are one of the 16 million Hay Fever suffers in the UK then you will know that it can be an absolute nightmare to drive with but did you know that certain Hay Fever medications are unsafe to take if you intend to drive?

Make sure you read the label before taking to the road just to be sure.

You can help to keep pollen at bay by installing a good quality pollen filter, by keeping your windows closed as much as possible, and by regularly cleaning and vacuuming your interior where build up might occur.

Granville Cockpit Shine is great for reducing static build up on your dashboard, meaning that pollen is much less likely to cling to your car’s interior. It smells fab too!


Overheated Drivers!
We spend a lot of time worrying about how our vehicles perform but don’t forget the most important component of any motor – you, the driver!

Look after yourself when driving about this summer. The heat can take its toll on you much quicker behind glass windows.

Not to mention the inevitable tailbacks on those motorway getaways. Keep the fatigue at bay by making sure you stay hydrated and that you take regular breaks on those long car journeys to the seaside.

We recommend a cool bottle of water and putting your feet up for at least 20mins every 3hrs you are on the road.


If you have any queries about this article, please contact the Granville Technical Advice Line on +44 (0)1709 890099 or email us at: sales@granvilleoil.