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The Well Equipped Summer Car


 Touring the back roads of North Bay in summer usually means jaunts along winding roads with numerous elevations gains and drops. The weather ranges from cool along the coast to downright hot inland.

These are predictable conditions that you can prepare your British motor car to meet with a little advance planning. BEM would be happy to do a quick check-up on your vehicle to make sure it’s in top running order for summer:

  • Replace cold-weather engine oil with a viscosity and grade more suited to warmer temperatures.

  • Check your cooling system for leaks and unimpeded flow. Flush it and replace the current coolant with a fresh batch.

  • Rotate your tires. Check them for tread wear. You want at least .5 inch of depth from the surface of the tire to the bottom of the tread. Don’t forget to check your spare for proper inflation and tread depth.

  • Check your windshield wipers for wear and replace them if necessary. Even in summer, you use your wipers when there’s fog or mud and dust whipped up by trucks on the road.

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    Don’t forget other items that BEM can’t inspect or install for you but does recommend:

  • GPS—just in case. Sometimes roads are not clearly marked and you want to make sure you know where you are.
  • Extra water—A large container in case you overheat, and a few plastic bottles in case you have to wait out the arrival of a tow truck or are planning to drive a long stretch that has no roadside services.
  • A fully charged cell phone.
  • Jumper cables.
  • Jack and lug wrench.
  • Flashlight.
  • Energy bars. If you are diabetic, bring extra medications, including food that can help you ward off hypoglycemia.    

    • ISSN 1538 - 8913

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