While approaching the summer, it is important to ensure that your fleet of vehicles is in proper condition. Otherwise, you will not be able to get them to withstand scorching temperatures. As a result, you will encounter numerous challenges when fulfilling the increased demands of the season. Proper vehicle maintenance can help you overcome breakdowns while enhancing safety. Here are 9 of the most prominent vehicle maintenance services that you should focus on before summer. As a fleet owner in Brisbane, make sure to take time and attend to these. Then you can overcome frustration during the summer months.
Table of Contents
Tyre inspection
Tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. They are a critical component for safe driving. During summer months, high temperatures can accelerate this wear. As a result, you will have to deal with an increased risk of blowouts. That’s why you should pay attention to the condition of tyres during summer preparation.
During vehicle maintenance, inspect the tread depth of your tyres along with uneven wear. On top of that, you should also look at the signs of damage or bulging. Make sure that the tyres have proper pressure levels. That’s because underinflated tyres can result in excessive heat buildup during the summer months. This can cost you a lot of money in the long run due to premature wear.
Break inspection
Similar to tyres, you should also do a break check. Brakes are among the most important safety features of your vehicle. Roads will obviously become busy during the summer months. As a result, driving conditions will be more challenging. This is why you need to ensure that your brakes are performing perfectly well.
During a break check, you should inspect the brake pads, rotors, callipers, and brake fluid levels. This will ensure that your brakes are operating at optimal efficiency. You must promptly address any repairs or replacements to ensure the safety of your fleet.
Inspecting the fluid levels
When it comes to summer vehicle maintenance services, inspecting fluid levels is not something to ignore. Ignoring this can lead you to potential breakdowns or costly repairs. You must carefully inspect all essential fluids in your vehicle. They include:
- Transmission fluid
- Coolant
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Engine oil
When you maintain proper fluid levels, you can prevent overheating and leaks. You should attend to oil change in a timely manner as well. For this, you must follow recommendations as per your manufacturer. Such problems can compromise the overall performance and longevity of your vehicle. If needed, you may also consider going for a radiator flush. It will ensure better fuel efficiency.
Inspecting the air conditioning and coolant systems
Driving in summer can be challenging due to heat levels. This is why you need to ensure that your air conditioning system is functioning perfectly well. It will ensure your comfort throughout summer. You need to conduct a proper inspection and thoroughly check for leaks. If there is a need to recharge the refrigerant, you must do it as well. Most importantly, all components such as the condenser, compressor, and evaporator should operate efficiently.
Then you need to look at the coolant system. It is responsible for preventing the engine from overheating. You need to inspect the coolant system to ensure that there aren’t any leaks. If needed, you need to flush the coolant and replace it as well. This will ensure optimal cooling performance at all times.
Belt and hose inspection
You must also take time to attend to belts inspection and hoses inspection. Belts and hoses in your vehicle engine can crack or brittle along with time. This will increase the risk of failure. This is why you need to get an expert mechanic to inspect them. Then you can confirm the signs of wear and damage. As a result, you may proceed with timely replacement of them.
Failing belts and hoses can lead to overheating. It can also result in the loss of power steering or air conditioning. In worst cases, it may result in a complete engine failure. Instead of dealing with such an expensive repair, you should properly inspect both belts and hoses in your vehicle.
Windshield wipers and lights check
During the safety inspection, you should also inspect the condition of windshield wipers and lights. These components play a major role in maintaining the visibility and safety of your fleet vehicles. As a part of preventive maintenance work, you need to replace all worn or streaking windshield wiper blades. This will ensure clear visibility during summer rainstorms.
Next, you need to check all exterior lights. This includes headlights, taillights, and turn signs. You must ensure that all of them are functioning correctly and visible to the other drivers. This can provide a hassle-free driving experience on the road.
Inspect the battery health
Extreme heat can tax batteries. That’s why it is important to check battery health before summer. You need to get the help of an expert and test the overall health of your fleet vehicle batteries. This will help you to ensure that they can still hold a proper charge.
Look for corrosion, frayed cables, or cracks that indicate it’s time for replacement. Check and fill battery fluid levels if applicable. Consider upgrading old batteries proactively instead of waiting for failure during hot months when the fleet is in high use.
Inspecting air filters
Next, you need to look at the air filters of all vehicles in your fleet. It is a good thing to replace air filters prior to summer. That’s because heat puts more strain on engines. Clogged air filters can reduce the power and economy of all your vehicles. In the meantime, it will allow abrasive dust into the engine.
You need to check the vehicle manual for the recommended interval to get a better idea of when to replace air filters. It should happen every 15,000-30,000 kilometres. Make sure to use the proper filter type and size to allow full airflow. Clean filters ensure optimal combustion and deliver maximum fuel efficiency. It can also help you with preventing issues like overheating.
Do a suspension check
Heat and additional payload from gear or passengers make summer driving harder on suspension components. Your shocks and struts will have to go through significant stress because of it. That’s why you should go ahead and inspect for leaks or damage.
Evaluate the ride height and bounce test the suspension, replacing worn parts that are past manufacturer guidelines. Align the wheels properly and ensure the tyres are inflated to spec. This protects the chassis and drivetrain while providing better vehicle control and braking for safety.
Final Words
Make sure that you don’t ignore any of these vehicle maintenance services before the summer months. Then you will not encounter any challenges when operating your fleet. But you need to seek the assistance of an expert mechanic for inspections. This is where SNC Automotive can help. No matter how many vehicles there in your fleet are, we can help you with comprehensive inspections for all vehicles. Feel free to get in touch with us today and schedule your appointment.