No matter what time of year it is, driving around San Francisco every day can take its toll on your vehicle. It is hilly. Many of the roads are old. And, it's always busy with traffic just about any time of day or night. That traffic only gets worse in the summer months as our beloved city attracts visitors from all over the world. We also get extra heat and humidity, which can also put extra strain on you and your car.
Here are a few San Francisco summer driving and car care tips from the automotive experts at San Francisco Automotive Solutions:
1. Pay Attention and Be Careful
This is true any time of year, but especially during summer when there are so many extra cars, pedestrians, cyclists and cable cars throughout town. Just be cautious while you are driving and always keep your eyes peeled. This will help to prevent accidents and other driver safety concerns.
2. Get Your Brakes Checked
In this city, you use your brakes a lot more than most other places. With the hills and traffic, you will be stopping and going as you work your way through town. You want your brakes to be working well to keep you safe and to stop your vehicle quickly in case of emergency. You may also want to get your parking brake checked routinely if you use it while parking on the steep hillsides.
3. Use Lower Gears When Needed
Climbing a steep hill (especially if carrying a heavy load in a truck or towing a trailer) can be murder on your transmission if you aren't using the right gears. Use lower gears when needed (uphill or downhill) to maximize torque and to keep your transmission from working harder than it needs to.
4. Cooling System Tune-Up
Your cooling system keeps your car from overheating. Therefore, it needs to be taken care of. Summertime is a perfect time to get your cooling system inspected and tuned up by the team at San Francisco Automotive Solutions.
5. Don't Abuse Your Air Conditioner
You may also want to get an A/C tune-up this summer if you run it a lot when it's warmer outside. Otherwise, be mindful not to crank it all the way up all the time. This is another thing that can lead to the engine overheating, but abusing your air conditioner will also affect your fuel economy and battery life.
6. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Keeping your tires inflated at the desired pressure is important at all times, but summer driving through the city can easily cause variances. At least once every week or so, it's a good idea to check the air pressure in each tire and reinflate as needed to keep them from wearing out too quickly or causing traction issue on the older, hilly streets of San Francisco.
7. Enjoy Yourself
The best tip may be to relax and enjoy yourself. Even when you live and work in the city and drive through it every day, don't forget we live in one of the most vibrant places in the world. The more you can appreciate that fact, the more you will get out of your daily commute. And, if you just happen to be vacationing in San Francisco from out of town this summer, welcome and we hope you enjoy your visit!
For all your San Francisco auto repair and preventative maintenance needs, call San Francisco Automotive Solutions today at (415) 957-1170 or schedule your service appointment online.