The summer holidays are coming to an end and this weekend promises to be very busy on the roads, Bison Futé is dressed in red throughout France this Saturday. Therefore, it will be necessary to be patient in traffic jams and, above all, to endure the stifling heat.
No less than 28 departments have been on orange alert due to a heat wave since Friday with temperatures that could rise to 38 degrees. How then to avoid unpleasant surprises for the mechanics, but also for your passengers? Beware of false good ideas.
• Set the air conditioning to maximum and very cold to cool down immediately
Bad idea. With these high temperatures, the use of air conditioning is obviously recommended. But turning the air conditioner down to 20 or 22°C when it’s 35°C outside is not good for you or your vehicle. This puts pressure on the ventilation system and leads to excessive fuel consumption.
You should ideally hit the road with a vehicle that has spent the night in a cool place, ideally in a garage. If you don’t have one, protect it with a large sunshade over the entire cabin. This will dampen the heat. Then air out the vehicle a bit, with all doors and trunk open before (re)starting, and drive a bit with the windows open, then close the windows and turn on the air conditioning. At what temperature? It is generally recommended not to have a difference greater than 5 to 7°C with the outside temperature, to avoid any thermal shock when leaving the vehicle.
• Direct the conditioned air at your face to cool down
It is not better to take advantage of the air conditioning. Instead, direct the airflow towards the arms, exposed to the sun, towards the ceiling, to spread the airflow in the cabin, suggests the rental company Sixt in its advice blog. Good maintenance of the air conditioning is also essential: do not hesitate to have its condition checked before hitting the road. It must be recharged with gas every 2 or 3 years.
Beware of received ideas: the mechanics also suffer when it’s hot. Beyond air conditioning, before leaving, a brief visit to the garage to check the condition of your vehicle can save you a lot of trouble. In particular, it is necessary to check the battery, a particularly fragile component in case of extreme heat. Change it if it is at the end of its life.
If you do not have time to go to the workshop, the minimum is to check the level of oil and engine coolant (always with a cold engine), as well as the wear and pressure of the tires. This tire check is crucial. Protects against the risk of explosion in case of underinflation. A risk that increases considerably in case of high heat.
Remember that the information on the recommended tire pressure is indicated on the edge of the door, in the glove box or in the maintenance booklet. Checking and inflation must be done cold. When hot, 0.3 bar must be added to the recommended cold pressure. And don’t forget to also check the pressure of the spare tire and/or the presence of an anti-puncture kit on board.
And always have useful information at hand in the event of a breakdown. “Before each outing with your vehicle, check that the assistance number of your car is actually written on the insurance sticker. If not, slide the number into your glove compartment or save it to your phone before leaving”, remember Europ Assistance for example.
• Leave early and don’t take a break to avoid driving during peak heat
Leaving early is a good idea, to avoid the hottest hours as much as possible, if you are sufficiently rested. But beware of the temptation to “shoe” to reach the peak of intense heat earlier.
Heat wave or not, the rule is to take a break after a maximum driving time of two hours. And taking a break also means getting out of the vehicle to stretch your legs, trying as much as possible to stay in the shade.
Pay special attention to children, who may suffer from “heat stroke” – characterized by overheating of the body, unusual crying, tired eyes and dilated pupils, dry tongue and absence of sweating, red, hot, often dry and/or skin. or vomiting. Regular hydration is recommended, as well as the use of fans or nebulizers if the vehicle does not have air conditioning.
Bottles of water, loose clothing: the essentials
Do not forget to prepare bottles of water, cooler, vaporizers and everything that can refresh the passengers and the driver on board.
Loose clothing will be more pleasant, especially for children. “It is advisable to dress them in loose-fitting, cotton, light-colored clothing. If possible, put them on a T-shirt instead of a bodysuit, which will absorb sweat and allow air to circulate,” advises the Ministry of the Interior in its Heat Waves Guide .
You can also install a cotton terry cover on the car seat.
Source: BFM TV
