RAC ready for first summer scorcher
25 January 2012
The RAC is ramping up its roadside assistance patrols and Auto Services centres in preparation for the coming heatwave.
With the mercury forecast to hover around 40 degrees for the next week and tipped to nudge 42 degrees on Saturday the RAC is estimating a high number of breakdowns. The increased number of cars on the road due to it being the final few days of school holidays is also likely to contribute.
“If you haven’t had your car serviced recently it’s a good idea to check the coolant in your radiator before you begin your journey,” RAC Regional Manager for Auto Services, Andrew Hadfield said.
“If your car has been losing coolant it’s also a good idea to carry an extra couple of litres of water in the boot in case your car does overheat in the scorching weather.”
And with many vehicle cooling systems set to struggle with the high temperatures the RAC is urging people who do have a breakdown to be careful.
“People should be prepared and take bottles of drinking water with them,” Mr Hadfield said.
Every year people burn themselves because once their car has overheated they try to open the radiator cap without giving time for the water in the radiator to cool down.
“As a rule if the cap is too hot to touch you should not open it. When it is cool enough you can remove slowly but still with caution., If RAC members are in any doubt they should call the RAC on 13 11 11.”
According to the RAC the first hot spell of the summer is often one of the busiest times for RAC Roadside Assistance call outs with battery issues topping the list of most common breakdown reasons last summer, followed by electrical and cooling system issues.
Top five tips: 1. Check the coolant level of your vehicle, and top up if it is low
2. Check your fan belt for any cracking or fraying, fan belts are more likely to fail in extremely hot temperatures and affect your car’s cooling system
3. Batteries deteriorate very quickly in summer, clean the terminals with boiling water if they show signs of a white ashy deposit, and also check for any cracking, bulging or damage to the outside
4. Make sure you are prepared and take a couple of bottles of drinking water with you.
5. If your engine does overheat, make sure you open the bonnet & leave it open to help the engine cool down while waiting for the RAC to arrive
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