The summer is often everyone’s favorite time of year to travel, but intense summer heat can get in the way of your automobile’s health. While it may be ideal weather for road trips, vacations and beach days, the extreme heat can damage the inner workings of your Toyota.

Read on to find our top five tips for ensuring your car survives the summer fun and the summer heat.

1.Test the AC

What goes better with the summer heat than air conditioning. When the sun starts beating down on your car, you’ll want to make sure the AC is at full capacity. If you’re feeling hot air when you turn on your AC, then you might need a little help. Bring your car into your local Toyota service center and meet with a certified Toyota technician who can check the level of refrigerant in your AC system and ensure your AC is blowing cold air during the hot summer months.

2.Top Off Engine Fluid

As the seasons change, weather shifts can lead to low engine fluids that tend to thin and evaporate in warm temperatures. Once the summer heat comes into play, you’ll want to top off your car fluids due to the evaporation of water inside the radiator. The drop in coolant levels can cause your engine to overheat [coolant]. Schedule an appointment with your local Toyota Certified technicians to have your engine checked or take the DIY approach and top it off yourself. Find all the DIY Toyota parts needed online.

3.Check Air Filter

In the summer season, heat and humidity can cause your air conditioner to work harder, as well as cause the cabin air filter to clog more quickly. During the summer months, pollen and other allergens are most active, your Toyota cabin air filters play a vital role in reducing the number of allergens within the vehicle by trapping them and making the drive much more comfortable. Check out our current offers and get $10 Off Installed engine and cabin air filters.

4.Create Auto Emergency Kit

With summer travel on the road, it’s important to be prepared for any unexpected emergencies. Having an emergency summer car kit on hand is a smart way to ensure you're ready for all the upcoming summer trips.

Look below for what to include in your emergency kit to stay prepared and safe on the road this summer.

• Flashlight

• Batteries

• Tool Kit

• Seatbelt Cutter

• Reflective Triangles

• Lug Wrench

• Jumper Cables

5.Check Tire Pressure

According to Firestone, “for every 10℉ rise in temperature, your tires gain 1 PSI (pound per square inch) pressure. For every 10℉ drop, your tires lose about 1 PSI pressure. Additionally, tires may lose about 1 PSI every month2. Since hot weather increases the pressure in tires, many may wonder “what should tire pressure be in hot weather?” While one may assume that being underinflated is the way to go in the summer, that is far from the case. Without the correct air pressure, the tires can incur internal damage, growing weaker over time and become more susceptible to blowout [pressure]. Prior to any road trips or summer vacations, bring your car into your nearest Toyota service center, and one of our certified technicians will make sure your tires are set to the exact tire pressure needed for your summer travels.

Our knowledgeable staff and Toyota-certified technicians will help you stay in the safety lane with regular maintenance and expertise when it comes to your summer vacations, beach days and road trips.