Tips to Prevent Your Vehicle from Overheating in the Hot Summer Sun

Summer officially begins on Friday, June 21, and soaring temperatures usually come with the longest day of the yeat and those that follow!
The dog days of summer can tax your vehicle. One of the most common ways in which the summer heat can damage your vehicle comes with overheating. You know what Westboro Toyota is talking about! We’ve all seen cars broken down on the side of the road at one point or another with steam billowing from an open hood. Ugh.

The good news is that while we can’t control the mercury from hitting sweltering highs during New England summers, we can all take a proactive approach to ensure that our vehicles are performing in tip-top shape to avoid overheating, roadside disasters.

For starters, don’t use water as a coolant. Sure, in an emergency it may do the short-term trick, but as a best practice make sure your vehicle’s coolant is up to snuff. Book your service appointment 24/7 through Westboro Toyota’s handy online scheduler. During regularly scheduled maintenance, such as an oil change, we can top off your coolant if necessary!
Make sure the radiator cap is on tight. This will ensure that the coolant has the necessary room to expand and contract. Only check the cap when the vehicle has been off for a period of time—don’t touch it when it’s hot, as this may result in burns to the face and hands.
If you hear bubbling or gurgling when driving your vehicle, pull over immediately. Driving a vehicle when the cooling system is malfunctioning can result in disastrous consequences, including engine destruction.
The bottom line: There is no antifreeze gauge that goes off in a vehicle to alert you to low levels, so it’s extremely important that you book regular maintenance for your vehicle. Experienced service technicians like the Westboro Toyota service team can check your antifreeze to ensure you’ve got plenty to get you through the hot summer and can inspect for any drips or leaks and address those issues accordingly.

Schedule your service today with Westboro Toyota, and regularly visit our service specials page for scorching hot deals on maintenance like oil changes, brake work, cabin air filter replacements and more! And, if you’re in market for a new vehicle, the Toyota Summer Sales Event is going strong now through July 8, 2013 at Westboro Toyota. We’ve got exceptional deals on brand-new 2013 Toyotas. Stop by now for a test drive and get a free $10 Exxon-Mobil gift card!