http://www.performanceautoblog.com/summertime-serviceSummertime ServicePerformance Automotive Blog

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Kids are out of school, ball games, swimming, family vacation and the temperatures outside go up… HOT!!! It seems like this time of year just flies by and it’s back to school again. We use our vehicles quit a lot during this time and depend on it on a daily basis to have as much fun as possible.

A lot of people don’t realize that the summer temperatures, which can reach the triple digits, have a lot of the same effects that the winter season does on your vehicle. Under hood temperatures can climb to several hundred degrees while driving in city traffic and out on the highway. With the high temperatures in mind here are a few tips to help prevent any unexpected break downs and have a fun filled summer.

1.  If your battery is 5 years old, have it replaced. Battery life is 5 yrs after that you’re going on borrowed time. Extreme heat will cause battery failure on an already weak battery at the worst possible times, without any warning.

2.  Have your engine coolant checked, we call it anti-freeze which it is but if the mixture isn’t correct you will have a lower boiling point and cause an overheating condition in your engine. If the coolant isn’t correct have the system drained and flushed by a certified technician.

3.  Make sure your windshield wiper blades clean the windshield well, because we can have summer storms that produce alto of rain and the heat in between the storms can deteriorate the rubber blades and not clean properly.

4.  Check or have the engine drive belt checked, a broken belt can also cause an overheating condition of the engine. If your vehicle has a separate air conditioner belt and this one was to break, everyone would be HOT!!

5.  Make sure the engine oil is fresh. Oil breaks down under heat and loses its lubricating properties, so if the oil is not fresh the engine can run hotter than normal.

6.  If you’re not a do it yourself-er make sure to have a certified technician perform these inspections for you.  You can schedule an appointment at any of the Performance Auto Group’s 10 convenient locations in Omaha or Lincoln at PerformanceService.net.

By following these simple tips you and your family can have a trouble free enjoyable summer!