In case you didn’t know, the weather in Malaysia can get pretty hot, not the sexy kind but the sweaty kind.
In fact, experts have noted that we’ll probably be experiencing a maximum temperature of 40°C a few times this year.
And what does all this shining and burning sunlight do to your car? Well, we’re here to tell you.
BATTERY
Hot temperatures put additional strain on your battery. In fact, the hot climate causes a greenish chemical build up on top of your battery which may cause sparks. The heat also causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery.
Why? Heat accelerates the chemical reactions within a battery. So if and when possible, park indoors. Or you could try singing, we hear it makes the skies storm and sun go away.
TYRES
With the sun shining brightly against our roads, the temperatures on the tarmac can go up to a point where you can fry rice on the road. With a telur mata of course.
This means that if your tyres have been on the road for too long, its temperature will rise, heating the air inside.
The heated air will then expand causing the pressure to rise. If it rises high enough, your tyres could blow. (Ever notice all the rubber pieces on the highways? Yeah: those are tyre blowouts.)
Even if it doesn’t blow out, over-inflation can cause a tire to prematurely wear and interfere with braking.
You might think the best thing to do is to let a little air out of the tires so you can keep traveling down the road. But to that we say: You siau ah!?
If you let air out, you run the risk of driving on tires that are under-inflated, which is equally dangerous.
One possible solution is to check the “maximum inflation pressure” and make sure that you don’t over-inflate, especially before a long journey.
ENGINE OIL
A hot engine needs all the lubrication it can get, so keeping on top of engine oil changes is especially important during these hot months.
Though some people believe it’s necessary to use a thicker grade of oil, this isn’t really the case with modern motor oils.
The most important thing is to change the oil at regular intervals and use the oil viscosity recommended in the owner’s manual for your car, or consult your trusted workshop to advise.
WIPERS
Did you know that the hot weather can affect your car’s wiper blades as well? When the rubber on your wiper blades gets hot, it loses some of its flexibility and ‘dries’ out. This makes it hard and brittle which will definitely not wipe well.
Hence silicone wipers were introduced into the market and most would agree that they tend to outperform rubber ones when it comes to durability.
Now you might have noticed that sometimes when a car is parked outside, the wipers are lifted up. No this is not a way for you to avoid getting a saman but rather in fact to protect the rubber wipers from running out of shape under the hot sun.
However, there are some quarters who have said that leaving the wiper arm up will weaken the spring and with a weak spring, the wiper won’t swipe properly when car runs in high speed.
Be it leaving it up or resting it down, it is important to remember that you should replace your car wipers regularly as most wiper blades usually last about six to eight months.
Keeping fresh blades on your wipers ensures your windshield gets a thorough swipe every time the arms move across it.
PAINT
Just like the sun to your skin, the sun can affect paint on your car too. Ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun oxidises and fade car paint and make your car look old and worn out before its time.
This is because when UV rays make contact with a surface, the molecules receive a jolt of energy. This extra energy is usually given off as heat, but some of these jolts result in molecular bonds breaking.
Over time, when this happens to enough molecules on the paint, it no longer interacts with light in the same way. It becomes less reflective and duller, transmitting less light outward that we see as colour.
Regardless, some paints are more susceptible to fading, with red usually losing its colour the fastest.
You might think it is a good idea to wash your car under the hot sun right? After all, the sun can quickly dry it up. That’s where you’re wrong.
The shampoo residue and rinse water can quickly dry onto the surface of the paintwork resulting in unsightly water spotting, streaking and drip marks which can often be difficult to remove and can actually damage the paintwork in some instances.
Of course we’re not saying don’t wash your car, but maybe try washing it earlier in the morning or later in the day when the sun’s heat isn’t on steroids.
TIPS FOR DRIVING UNDER HOT WEATHER
Well the most obvious way would be to park in the shade whenever possible. That pretty much solves everything but we know Malaysians love cars and your family would probably have 3-4 thus making it hard. Plus, parking under a tree has its dangers.
If that’s the case then we recommend you cover up your car with a car cover when parked outside, but maybe not with the Ferrari cover la, unless you drive one la.
But then if you drive one, why would you park it outside… you know what, nevermind…
Listen to your mother and drink lots of water. Drive with spare water, enough for all your passengers and any pets too. On long trips, maybe bring several litres. Avoid caffeinated drinks. Keep some water to cool the engine if need be too.
Wash your car often. Try once a week if possible. Make sure you dry your car thoroughly.
Drying your car with a cotton rag or cloth protects your car’s paint from minerals left behind by water evaporation.
Waxing is another way to protect your car’s paint job. If you make waxing a regular part of your car maintenance you will decrease the risk of a faded paint job.
Also, another very important tip is to NEVER leave your children alone unattended in the car.
Like seriously. Not for a minute. Not for a quick paper run. Bring your child with you.
Lim Tayar is your car One-Stop Service Centre with ranges of car products and services and over 35 years of Malaysia automotive industry. Lim Tayar, provide FREE 15-points check in ensuring your safety and service quality. We carry wide range of products and services from tyres, car batteries, spare parts and many more under one roof as the One-Stop Service Centre. Find your nearest Lim Tayar today! https://bit.ly/LimTayarBooking