With Texas temperatures skyrocketing, it's not just your sunburn you need to worry about—it's your vehicle, too. Austin American Statesman has recently highlighted how the intense Texas heat can take a serious toll on your rides—from tire blowouts to battery failures.
Before you head out for that well-deserved summer road trip, there's a checklist you're going to want to run through; AJ Garza, a Jiffy Lube regional manager, insists on good tire condition to prevent blowouts from the heat belched out by those endless Texas roads, while AAA Texas nudges you to perform the B-E.P.T., that's batteries, engines, and tires check, and not forgetting your wiper blades, lights, and AC—your lifelines if you're caught in a storm or just fighting the good fight against the merciless sun. Although, "The extreme heat just completely puts a huge damper on your battery, so it can drain your battery out," Garza warned, emphasizing the harsh impact of heat on vehicle batteries.
Fun fact: your engine's coolant isn't immortal; it can break down in extreme temperatures, leading to overheating—a no-go during any Texan summer. AJ Garza recommended "checking to make sure your backup and spare reservoirs are at the proper level and the fluid is within its lifespan and hasn’t broken down," KXAN reported. On the other hand, AAA Texas advises maintaining the right coolant level, insisting on a 50-50 mix of water and your vehicle's specific coolant, and screwing the lid tight because nobody wants a summer breakdown to ruin their road trip lake daydreams.
And let's talk tires for a hot second—keeping them inflated is not a suggestion but a necessity; low tire pressure means you could be sliding around more than you'd like and eating up more fuel than your wallet might appreciate, while worn-down tread depth doesn't just look bad, it's downright dangerous. AAA says to use an upside-down quarter to check a tire's tread; if you see the top of Washington’s head, it's time for a tire shopping spree, yes, even if they say everything's bigger in Texas, that doesn't mean your risk-taking with bald tires should be. Plus, remember that "wiper blades eventually wear down after exposure to extreme temperatures," as reported by KXAN; it's an often-overlooked item that actually holds great importance, particularly in Texas' more intense climate.
Now, let's not forget the inside scoop on staying cool; Findlay Acura out of Nevada—no stranger to heat themselves—recommends using the "fan" technique with car windows and the AC to bid adieu to the trapped sauna air in your car. Adding to that, a trusty sunshade can work wonders to keep your car's interior just a touch less like an oven by reflecting those UV rays back to where they came from, that fiery ball in the sky. Park smart, too, under cover if you can help it. Crack your windows if the car's gonna sit tight for a while; this will help hot air take a vacation away from your vehicle's interior.
In case the heat decides to tango with your travel plans, an emergency kit with a first aid setup, jumper cables, and other 'just in case' essentials, including water—because hydration equals salvation here—should be your constant travel buddy according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as they say, be prepared or be square, right? Whether it's a spontaneous day trip or a cross-state family visit, you've got to ensure that your vehicle is summer-ready because Texas heat waits for no one, and neither should you.
