As temperatures rise across the GCC region, it’s important to remember that summer poses more problems than sweat and discomfort – it also requires a special regimen of care for one’s vehicle. If one happens to own a luxury car, one’ll need to take some additional steps. 

 

Here are six ways to ensure one’s luxury nameplate remains in top condition, no matter how hot it is outside.

 

Mind the hot leather 

One of the key in-cabin differentiators between luxury and economical vehicles is the seating. The latter tends to have simple fabric-based seats, while the former comes with a variety of high-end options, including classic leather and Alcantara in Lincoln’s case.

 

While finer seat materials may be beautiful to look at and feel great to rest on, there are certain protocols of care that should be observed, especially if one’s car spends a lot of time parked outdoor under the sun. 

 

The first order of business is to invest in a trusted brand of leather cleaner and conditioner. If one is travelling this summer and do not have a shaded spot to leave the car, it might be worth picking up a seat cover for added protection while the vehicle rests unused. 

 

Air out one’s filter 

With dusty winds blowing sand across the GCC’s highways, summer can be taxing on one’s vehicle’s air filter. It may be made of paper, but the air filter serves a crucial purpose, which includes protecting the engine cylinders, walls, pistons, and piston rings from damaging dirt particles. A clean air filter is also essential for a functioning air conditioning system. 

 

Should this filter get clogged, this will impact one’s vehicle’s ability to pull sufficient air into the engine, which will reduce its efficiency – more fuel will be consumed as less power is produced. 

 

If one senses a drop in engine economy, take the vehicle to the nearest local Lincoln service centre to have the air filter checked. 

 

Stay shaded 

Extensive exposure to the sun can, over time, dull one’s vehicle’s coat of paint. It can also damage interior materials such as leather. If one lives in a building, be sure to always park inside the basement or multistorey lot. 

 

If one is unable to park under shelter, a well-placed windshield shade can protect one’s steering wheel, dashboard, and front seats from the worst of the sunny weather. 

 

Maintain cool conditioning 

This one may be obvious, but it bears repeating – for the good of oneself, any passengers, and the vehicle, take the car to the nearest Lincoln service centre as soon as one feels that the air conditioning efficacy has reduced.  

 

A weakened or non-functioning AC may be symptomatic of a serious issue, such as a leak, faulty compressor, something blocking one’s condenser intake, or a minor problem, like a low level of refrigerant gas. 

 

Remember, a working air conditioner isn’t just an issue of comfort, health and safety; it’s also necessary for helping keep one’s engine cool. 

 

Oil’s well that ends well 

A combustion engine comes under a lot of stress to power one’s journeys at the best of times, with friction between moving parts contributing to wear and tear. 

 

When one adds dust, heat, and humidity to the equation, it comes under even more strain.  

 

Depending on its quality and consistency, engine oil typically needs to be changed every 10,000 kilometres. If one’s car’s due for a change this summer, it’s worth doing it a couple of hundred km early rather than later. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine and keeping it fresh is essential for driving in difficult conditions.  

 

Battery up 

There’s no worse feeling than getting into one’s car to escape 45 degrees of heat, pressing the ignition button and hearing a dreaded clicking sound. 

 

A battery may not be something we regularly think about – it normally needs changing roughly every 12 to 18 months – but hot weather can speed up the degradation of its power.  

 

The next time you’re taking the car in for an oil change, to check the air filter, or any other reason, ask the Lincoln technician to give one’s battery a quick check for corrosion around the terminals, water level, and the retaining strap.  

 

It’s also worth keeping jumper cables in one’s trunk – they can prove incredibly handy as a quick fix if one doesn’t have time to wait for a new battery to arrive and be installed.-- TradeArabia News Service