How to prepare your car for summer

It is now March 2026 and this means that the summer season has officially started. This, for many Filipinos, of course means long (or even short) road trips with the family and/or friends. After all, the said season is the perfect time to head to relaxing locations such as the thousands of beaches we have in the country. And yes, it is also the perfect time to see relatives in the provinces. 

Summer, however, also means heat, and in the context of the local setting, this means temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius (or higher in some areas), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). 

That type of heat index, as most experienced drivers already know, takes a heavy toll on automobiles - especially ones that aren’t up-to-snuff when it comes to maintenance. 

So, how does one prepare a car for summer, and how does one ensure a smooth roadtrip experience with the fam? Here’s a short and handy guide. 

Summer maintenance considerations

Cooling system check

As mentioned above, the biggest factor that takes a toll on one’s car during the summer is hot weather. On this note, having a tip-top cooling system is a must. 

For this, basic checks one can do at home include monitoring coolant levels. If it falls below the indicated minimum level, which is often marked with the words “MIN” on a vehicle’s translucent overflow reservoir, simply top it up with the correct coolant type as indicated in your car’s user manual. 

Do note, however, that if coolant has been circulating in the car for more than a year (or around 50,000 kilometers according to some brands), it could be due for a full coolant change. This involves a visit to a repair shop where trained mechanics can drain the old fluid, flush the system, perform a coolant system bleed, and properly dispose of the old coolant.

For the unaware, “bleeding” a coolant system, according to Valvoline Global Operations - one of the largest coolant manufacturers in the world, is the process of eliminating trapped air from a vehicle’s radiator and engine block. The aforementioned process increases cooling efficiency and, in some cases, engine damage. 

Tire rotation/tire check

Another way to prepare for the rigors of summer travel is to rotate tires. Per manufacturing giant Bridgestone Tires, this is crucial to ensure that wear is evenly distributed on all four tires. The aforementioned will also help in maximizing a tire’s tread life. 

Do note, however, that there are three common patterns for performing tire rotation. Per Bridgestone, these are: 

Performing a rearward cross pattern is ideal for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, while a forward cross pattern is common for front-wheel-drive vehicles. An X-pattern, on the other hand, is utilized for four-wheel or all-wheel-drive models. 

Of course, checking one’s tires is also a good way to prepare for long summer road trips. Specifically, do take the time to give your rubbers a visual walkaround to spot damage like tears or wear condition. 

Furthermore, do take note of your tire’s expiry date, which is indicated by a “DOT” (Department of Transportation) code. For popular tire brands, this can be found on the sidewall, just below or to the side of the tire size.

As per the picture above, Michelin Philippines says the last four digits of the DOT code is the tire production date. The first two digits indicates the week, whereas the last two digits show the year of production. 

Note that checking one’s tires is important during hot weather. Hot air, after all, can expand, thus increasing its pressure. This can cause overinflation, which may lead to reduced traction and early wear. In worst-case scenarios, it can even cause a blowout. 

Protect your paint

Hot weather during the summer months can also do a number on your car’s paint. So, if one is able, park your car in a shaded or roofed area. 

Additionally, a regular car wash and waxing can do wonders for your ride during the summer. Heat, after all, can cause nasty chemical reactions with dirt such as bird droppings, insect bits, tree sap, or even leaves. Ultraviolet rays can also cause oxidation, which is significantly accelerated on hot days. 

For those who want to wash their car themselves, you can check out this guide.

Check air-conditioning system

Another crucial in-vehicle system to check is the car’s air-conditioning system, for obvious reasons. 

If planning many trips during the summer, it's ideal to replace the car’s cabin air filter if it hasn’t been replaced in the past year. One should also check for refrigerant leaks, which are usually left beneath a parked car as a greasy liquid. If the liquid left behind under a car is just water (not greasy), this is normal condensation. 

Another thorough step to ensure peak air-conditioning performance throughout the summer months is to clean the car’s condenser. This, however, usually involves removing the front grille or other front fascia parts, so a visit to an automotive air-conditioning specialist might be ideal for most car users. 

Clean your interior

Just before the peak of summer hits, another great thing to do for your car is to give its interior a deep clean. Doing this will ensure it stays fresh and smelling good, as it may remove some debris, including organic matter, which will no doubt stink up one’s car on hot days. 

Common types of organic matter that can be left (usually unintentionally) inside a car are food particles, dead skin cells, mildew, or even dead organisms. These can be easily removed with elbow grease (manually sweeping up or picking up debris) mixed together with enzyme sprays and/or all-purpose cleaners. Basically, a deep clean.

For most car users, the usual spots where organic matter can accumulate are on the steering wheel, on cup holders, under the car’s floor mats, under the seat, and between the seat-back and main seat - among others. 

The worst type of organic matter to find inside a car is mold, which is also harmful to you and your passengers. Sure, mold can “disappear” from your car during hot weather, but it can come back when the rainy season rolls in. For this, we advise taking your car to a specialist for ozone treatments or other chemical-based cleaning methods. 

Car battery check

Another good measure to take to prepare your car for the summer is to make sure your battery is in good condition. This can be done easily via a multimeter reading, which should give between 12-13 volts if the car isn’t turned on. If the reading is below 11 volts, you basically have a dead or dying battery. 

Of course, the car will have starting difficulties if this is the case. And yes, you wouldn’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead car with the heat beating down on you. 

Oil check

Last but not least among the mechanical checks is the engine oil. Sure, most owners will check their oil even for daily drives, but having fresh engine oil for long summer drives is also a must. 

Oil is critical for regulating engine temperatures, because apart from the coolant, it circulates to redistribute heat in engine interior engine parts - areas where coolant cannot (and should not) reach. 

Moving engine parts such as the piston, crankshaft, and bearings, after all, are in constant friction, thus creating heat. Oil does its job by lubricating these parts, ensuring smooth movement and helping stave off heat generation. 

Other stories: GWM Haval H9: Is it priced right? Denza D9: yays and nays All-electric MPV battle: BYD eMAX 7 vs. VinFast Limo Green

Plan routes

With the basic mechanical checks out of the way, let us plan for the actual summer-long road trips. The first tip for this is to plan your routes. 

Planning your routes nowadays is easy with Google Maps, Waze, or even toll provider apps. Doing so will help ensure that you aren’t wasting toll fees or fuel, or, worse, miss a highway exit. 

Researching prevailing road conditions for a particular route is also ideal. This will inform you of what to expect from a road, especially one that you haven’t driven through before. One major example of this is the severely damaged sections of the Maharlika Highway in Quezon Province, which Zigwheels Philippines experienced firsthand during a recent media drive event. 

Looking up ferry fares in advance, or even booking a RoRo ship ticket for your vehicle in advance, would be great if you’re heading to destinations such as Leyte, Samar, Mindoro, Cebu, Palawan, Aklan, Bohol, and many other island provinces. 

Planning one's road trip routes is also important for those who use electric vehicles (EV). In this regard, one should be aware if there are any charging stations along your route. 

Pack up supplies

Packing up supplies is also a good way to prepare for a long road trip. Snacks are great to stave off hunger pangs. But during summer, water is a must-have. 

In the same vein, also make sure your car has the right tools to handle the usual on-road problems. This could include:

• A spare tire in good condition
• Tire repair kit (if your car cannot carry a spare)
• Tire inflater
• Early warning device
• Small fire extinguisher
• Jump-start kit
• Basic tools (jack and lug wrench are crucial)
• Knife (make sure your toolkit includes a knife or multitool) 
• Road flares (not common but good for nighttime breakdowns)
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries

Also read:

Avoid road trip horror stories this 'Undas' with these tips

Here are ways to avoid road rage

How well do you understand traffic signs?

Connect with us through our various social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZigWheelsPhilippines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigwheelsph/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zigwheels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZigWheelsPhilippines/