News 40 Weather Reports: How hot weather wrecks your car

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.  – As temperatures across south-central Kentucky push into the 90s this week, local mechanics say the heat is doing more than making people sweat, it’s putting serious strain on cars.

From tires to batteries to coolant systems, summer weather is creating problems for unprepared drivers, according to Jason Musser, a local automotive shop owner.

“So if the coolant’s too low or the cooling system isn’t functioning properly for one reason or another, vehicle overheating,” Musser said. “So paying attention to the temperature gauge on your vehicle or a light… it’s pretty important.”

Most cars operate best between 210 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, but triple-digit heat on the pavement can push those numbers higher, and fast.

“Once you get to the 232, 250, depending on the type of coolant that you have, it starts to boil,” Musser said. “So that’s bad.”

Tire pressure also rises in hot weather. Overinflated tires can wear unevenly or even rupture on the highway.

“It can cause them to get slightly more pressure than you would want,” Musser said. “With higher tire pressure, it can cause wear on the center of the tread, which isn’t good.”

While winter often gets blamed for killing car batteries, Musser says the heat can be just as damaging, especially for batteries already near the end of their life.

“High temperature, it just makes it more likely to boil and burn up,” he said.

His advice? Check tire pressure regularly, get your cooling system looked at during routine oil changes, and don’t wait until something fails.

“Maybe every oil change, or before you go on a trip, it’s probably important to check,” Musser said.

Musser Automotive is located on 1343 Old Louisville Road in Bowling Green.