As the summer temperatures in the UAE soar past 45°C, we aren’t the only ones feeling the heat—our cars take a brutal beating too. Driving on the scorching tarmac of the UAE during July and August puts immense stress on your vehicle’s most critical components: its tyres and its engine oil. At Galaxy Tyres and Oil in Musaffah, we see first-hand what extreme heat does to vehicles. To help you avoid unexpected roadside breakdowns and expensive repairs, our expert team has put together the ultimate guide to keeping your car running cool, smooth, and safe this summer.
1. Watch Your Tyres: The Tarmac is Sizzling!
When the asphalt temperature exceeds 60°C, your tyres are your car’s only contact point with the road. Extreme heat causes the air inside your tyres to expand, which can lead to over-inflation, accelerated wear, or worse—dangerous tyre blowouts at highway speeds.
Check Pressure When Cold: Always check your tyre pressure in the morning before driving. Refer to the sticker on your driver’s door frame for the correct PSI.
Look for Physical Wear: Visually inspect your tyres for cracks, bulges, or bald spots. The UAE heat rapidly dry-rots rubber, making older tyres highly unstable.
Consider Nitrogen Filling: Nitrogen is much more stable than regular air and doesn’t expand as rapidly under high heat, maintaining a safer, more consistent tyre pressure.
Need a check? Bring your car to Galaxy Tyres in Musaffah for a free tyre safety and alignment check!
2. Engine Oil: Your Engine’s Life Shield
Engine oil acts as both a lubricant and a coolant. In the intense UAE summer, high temperatures thin out motor oil much faster than usual. When oil loses its thickness (viscosity), it can no longer protect your engine’s moving parts from friction, leading to severe overheating or catastrophic engine failure.
Shorten Your Oil Change Intervals: If you usually change your oil every 10,000 km, consider bringing it down to 7,500 km or 8,000 km during the peak summer months.
Switch to High-Quality Synthetic Oil: Synthetic oils are specifically engineered to withstand extreme GCC heat without breaking down.
Never Ignore the Oil Light: If your oil pressure light flickers or your engine runs louder than usual, pull over immediately.
3. The Silent Summer Killer: Your Car Battery
Did you know that heat—not cold—is the number one cause of car battery failure? High ambient temperatures accelerate the evaporation of the liquid electrolyte inside your battery and speed up terminal corrosion. A battery that works fine in winter can suddenly die without warning in August.
Inspect the Terminals: Look for a crusty, white, or blue-green build-up on the battery terminals.
Get a Load Test: If your battery is more than 2 years old, have it professionally tested to ensure it can hold a charge through the peak heat.
4. Keep Your Cool: AC & Coolant Systems
Driving in UAE without AC is simply not an option. To ensure your cabin stays ice-cold:
Check the Coolant Level: Make sure your coolant (antifreeze) reservoir is topped up. Warning: Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot!
Clean or Replace the Cabin Filter: A clogged cabin filter restricts airflow, forcing your AC compressor to work twice as hard and burn more fuel.
🚗 Beat the Heat with Galaxy Tyres and Oil in Musaffah!
Don’t wait until you’re stranded on the side of the road in the middle of summer. Safe driving starts with proactive maintenance.
At Galaxy Tyres and Oil, we are committed to keeping Abu Dhabi’s drivers safe. Drive into our workshop in Musaffah today for a quick summer health check!
Our Summer Services Include:
- Premium Tyre Replacements & Professional Wheel Alignment
- Quick Engine Oil & Filter Changes (using high-performance heat-resistant oils)
- Battery Diagnostics & Replacement
- Coolant & AC Performance Checks
