The Great British Summer is upon us - and boy has it made an entrance! Inconsistent temperatures, a heat wave, spontaneous torrential downpours and, of course, puffy red eyes and stuffed up noses for the Hay Fever suffers.

Of course Summer heralds busier roads as hopeful motorists make a dash to the airport to fairer climes; scramble for the coasts at the first sign of sunshine; or opt for spending the weekend in a crowded festival campsite up to their knees in mud. Busier roads obviously mean the potential to be sat for hours on end in traffic jams, but that’s not the worst thing that summer can throw at motorists trying to make a clean get away for their hols. Here's my top 6 summer problems that cause us drivers grief and some handy tips on how to tackle them:

Overheating Engines

As temperatures rise you need to make sure that it stays cool under that hood. It’s time to make sure that your coolant is topped up and kept fresh to avoid overheating and engine failure, especially if you are taking your vehicle to warmer climates. We recommend our products from the Antifreeze and Coolant Range, diluted as per your owner’s manual to keep your engine as cool as a cucumber.

Punctures and Blowouts

If you’re off on holiday this summer, chances are you are carrying a lot more weight than usual. This combined with higher temperatures means that tyres take a lot of flak when we pop off on our summer excursions. Heat aggravates any existing damage to your tyres, and if your tyres aren’t inflated properly the chances of a puncture or a blowout increases significantly. Make sure to check the health of your tyres before hitting the road. Do the 20p test to ensure that the tread depth is at least 1.6mm and consider adjusting your tyre pressure to compensate for any extra load you might be carrying.

Summer Thunderstorms

If there’s one word to describe the weather during the British Summer, it’s changeable. Heavy rainstorms can appear from nowhere decreasing visibility and causing slippery driving conditions in an instant. When it’s bucketing it down you need to be sure that your wipers can handle the extra workload. Take time to make sure that they are in good nick – that the rubber is intact and that it makes constant contact with the windscreen. If your wiper blades are squeaking, leaving streaks and smears or missing bits then you should replace them. You might also consider giving your wiper blades a helping hand with Rain-X® Rain Repellent to improve wet weather visibility.

Glare

So the sun’s decided to make a rare appearance – that’s great but intense sunlight, especially straight after a summer shower can cause glare and dangerous driving conditions. Make sure you are prepared by keeping a pair of sunglasses to hand just in case. Dirt and grime on the windshield can also catch sunlight and impair vision. Give your windows a quick once over before you set off and remove any smears or smudges with a cleaner which won’t leave streaks behind such as Granville’s Glass Cleaner.

Hay Fever

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming – oh and the pollen count is sky high! If you are one of the 16 million Hay Fever suffers in the UK then you will know that it can be an absolute nightmare to drive with but did you know that certain Hay Fever medications are unsafe to take if you intend to drive? Make sure you read the label before taking to the road just to be sure. You can help to keep pollen at bay by installing a good quality pollen filter, by keeping your windows closed as much as possible, and by regularly cleaning and vacuuming your interior where build up might occur. Granville Cockpit Shine is great for reducing static build up on your dashboard, meaning that pollen is much less likely to cling to your car’s interior. It smells fab too!

Overheated Drivers

We spend a lot of time worrying about how our vehicles perform but don’t forget the most important component of any motor – you, the driver! Look after yourself when driving about this summer. The heat can take its toll on you much quicker behind glass windows. Not to mention the inevitable tailbacks on those motorway getaways. Keep the fatigue at bay by making sure you stay hydrated and that you take regular breaks on those long car journeys to the seaside. We recommend a cool bottle of water and putting your feet up for at least 20mins every 3hrs you are on the road.

Article first published Thursday 2nd Jul 2015 10:00:00