| Introduction |
| 1: The Cooling System |
| 2: The Tires |
| 3: The Front End |
| 4: Change the Oil |
| 5: Air Conditioning System |
| 6: Check the Tranny |
| Some Other Stuff to Think About |
| List to Take to the Mechanic |
Number 4: CHANGE THE OIL
Make sure you stay on top of your oil changes. This is particularly important in the summer, since a hot engine needs all the lubrication it can get, and at high temperatures your engine's oil is really getting put through the wringer. Our current recom mendation is to change your oil every 5,000 miles--though that number may decrease dramatically if Kendall delivers with that check they keep promising.
A word about hauling big loads in the summer: Most car manufacturers will recommend 5W30 or 10W30 oil year-round. However, your owner's manual may have a recommendation for what's called "severe duty," such as pulling a trailer. In this case, you might want to switch over to a higher-viscosity oil. Why? Well, under hot operating conditions, a thicker oil will thin out less quickly, making sure your engine stays well lubricated when it needs it most.