Michigan summers are worth the wait. But after months of road salt, freezing temperatures, and freeze-thaw cycles, your car may not be as ready for summer as you are.

The good news is that a little attention now goes a long way. So before the heat sets in, here is what we look at when someone brings a vehicle in for a summer checkup at Tillema Auto. These are also things you can check yourself at home.

1. Your Cooling System

This is the most important thing to check before summer. Your engine runs hot, and your cooling system is what keeps it from running too hot. If your coolant is low, dirty, or overdue for a flush, summer heat is when you will find out about it.

Check your coolant level when the engine is cold. It should sit between the min and max lines on the reservoir. If it is low, top it off. However, also pay attention to whether it keeps dropping, because that can point to a leak.

If your coolant looks dark or rusty, it is time for a flush. Fresh coolant does a much better job pulling heat away from the engine.

Here are some signs your cooling system may be struggling:

• Temperature gauge climbing higher than normal
• A sweet smell coming from the engine bay
• White smoke from the exhaust
• Your heater blowing cold air even when the engine is warm

2. Oil

Oil keeps your engine lubricated and moving freely. In summer heat, it works harder than usual. So if you are overdue for a change or running low, the heat only makes that worse.

Pull the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it, and pull it again. The level should land between the two marks. Color matters too. Fresh oil is amber. Dark brown or black oil has lost its effectiveness and needs to be changed.

We recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles on semi-synthetic and every 5,000 miles on full synthetic. If you are not sure which your vehicle takes, give us a call and we will look it up.

3. Tires

First things first: if you ran winter tires this past season, now is the time to swap them off. Winter tire rubber is designed for cold temperatures. Because of this, it wears faster and handles differently in summer heat. Leaving them on through June and July shortens their life and affects your handling.

Next, check your tire pressure. For every 10 degrees of temperature increase, your tires gain about 1 PSI. Overinflated tires wear unevenly and reduce traction. Check your pressure now that temperatures have risen and adjust if needed. The correct pressure for your vehicle is on a sticker inside the driver door jamb.

Finally, do the quarter test for tread. Insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head pointing in. If you can see the top of his head, your tread is getting low. Replace the tires before summer road trips put more miles on them.

4. Air Conditioning

It is easy to forget about your A/C until you actually need it. Turn it on now, before the first hot day of the year, and let it run for a few minutes. Is it blowing cold? Does it cool the cabin quickly?

If it is blowing warm air or taking a long time to cool down, those are signs it needs attention. A/C issues are usually refrigerant-related and are straightforward to fix. However, you do not want to find out about a problem on a hot day with kids in the car.

5. Brakes

Winter is tough on brakes. Road salt speeds up rust on rotors, and wet conditions wear pads faster than dry summer driving. So before you load up the car for a summer trip, it is worth knowing where your brakes stand.

If you hear squeaking when you slow down, that usually means the wear indicators are touching the rotor. That is a warning that pads are getting thin. Grinding means the pads are gone and metal is contacting metal. At that point, you are typically looking at replacing rotors too, not just pads.

We check brake life at every oil change. If you are not sure where yours are, come in and we will take a look.

6. Wiper Blades

June in West Michigan means afternoon thunderstorms. Your wipers take a beating sitting through a Michigan winter, and you will not know they have degraded until you flip them on in the rain and they smear more than they clear.

Run your finger along the rubber edge. If it is cracked, stiff, or leaving streaks, replace them. It is a five-minute fix and one of the cheapest safety upgrades you can make.

7. Cabin Air Filter

Your cabin air filter cleans the air that comes through your vents. After a winter of pulling in dusty, salty air, it is often overdue for a change by the time summer arrives.

If you notice a musty smell when you turn on the A/C, that is usually the first sign. We check your engine air filter at every oil change and are happy to check the cabin filter at the same time.

Schedule a Summer Pre-Trip Inspection

If you have a summer road trip on the calendar, a pre-trip inspection is worth scheduling before you go. We check all major components: battery, brakes, tires, fluids, belts, hoses, and lights. If something is marginal, it is much better to know in Byron Center than to find out somewhere on the road.

Most people pair a pre-trip inspection with an oil change to make it one stop. We can usually get you in within the week.

Come See Us Before Summer Gets Going

If your vehicle has not been looked at since winter, now is a great time. Catching a weak battery, low coolant, or worn brakes in June is a lot easier and cheaper than dealing with it when it leaves you stranded.

Give us a call at (616) 878-5991 or stop by at 2647 84th St SW in Byron Center. You can also request an appointment online. We are always happy to give you an honest look at where things stand.