Summer rain, flash floods and your car

You would think we would be used to playing Russian roulette with the weather. It may be June but in the UK, that doesn’t guarantee good weather. And in just the last few days alone, we have had beautiful sunshine one moment and flash floods the next.

We can’t be the only ones having to prepare for the day by putting on sandals and reaching for the umbrella seconds later. As one twitter user commented recently, “I swear only in England could it be 30°c but with rain, thunderstorms and sun all in the space of an hour.”

The weather is changing so quickly that people are popping into the supermarket and just minutes later, watching their car float down the road. Not that @maggyvaneijk minded, who “just stood out in the rain so I could pretend to be in a Mariah Carey video.”

As frustrating yet amusing as this all is, the Met Office has revealed that this month is set to be the wettest June ever. Torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning are set to batter the UK and as such, severe weather warnings will soon be in place.

High temperatures are triggering heavy downpours, which brings the risk of flooding, particularly in urban areas. And in turn, this is likely to result in disruption to travel, as well as potential dangers such as aquaplaning.

Were you aware that the combination of heat and rain can play havoc with your car? People may talk about the strain winter puts on our vehicles but in reality, summer can be just as challenging – and expensive.

Here are M&BM Motors’ top tips to ensure that your vehicle doesn’t become another casualty of the summer rain.

Engine coolant

Did you know that if you don’t regularly check your engine coolant levels, you could end up with a bill of more than £1,000? Engine coolant is vital in order to prevent your car from overheating in the summer.

Check that your coolant fluid level remains between the minimum and maximum marks on a weekly basis when the engine is cold. If you notice that the level has dropped, we recommend that you take your vehicle to a garage as soon as possible. You engine’s coolant level should remain pretty constant between annual services, so any dip could spell trouble.

Battery

The summer heat can take a toll on your car’s battery. Make sure it is fully charged – the last thing you want is to end up in a car with a dead battery in 30°c heat. With no power, there won’t be any air conditioning and you’ll be lucky if a recovery vehicle gets to you within the hour.

Tyres

If you still have your winter tyres on, we implore you to change them back to summer or standard tyres. Summer tyres have been specifically engineered to offer superior performance and traction in both dry and wet conditions, and in temperatures over 7°c.

Constructed using a soft compound and engineering with special tread patterns that offer an enhanced grip on wet and dry roads, summer tyres also offer a resistance to traction, dry grip and aquaplaning that winter tyres simply cannot match.

Make sure you monitor your tyre pressure on a regular basis – according to the AA, punctures are the most common cause of summer breakdowns.

It is also vital that your tyres’ treads are at least 1.6mm, particularly when heavy downpours are predicted. The tread disperses any surface water, which could otherwise cause you to aquaplane. The deeper the tread, the more water is dispersed.

Air conditioning

Do you really want to end up in a traffic jam in high temperatures with no air conditioning? Click here for our hints and tips of keeping your air conditioning unit in tip-top condition.

Bodywork

It makes sense that most local authorities schedule in essential road works and maintenance for the warmer, drier (ahem!) months. However, road works inevitably means tar and stones – which can play havoc with your car’s bodywork.

Therefore, it is important that to minimise the chances of loose debris damaging your bodywork, you stay within the recommended speed limits when driving through work zones. You should also place plenty of space between you and other vehicle or your car could end up being scratched by debris flicked up by other vehicles.

Air filter

We are hoping that these torrential downpours won’t last all summer. With this in mind, remember that your air filter is likely to work much harder during the drier months, as its purpose is to prevent dirt and debris from entering your car’s engine.

Replace your air filter every year and it should continue to keep the air flowing into your vehicle’s engine.

Are you car-illiterate or too busy to do these summer checks yourself? Get in touch with M&BM Motors today – we are more than happy to help.