--- title: Before Summer Heat: Car Checklist for Reno url: https://xpressoilandlube.com/checklists/before-summer-heat/ business: Xpress Oil & Lube (Xpress Oil & Lube Center) shops: Reno Northwest: 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523, (775) 787-1000, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed; Reno South: 4993 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 828-6996, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-3 pm, Sun closed; Carson City: 1861 E College Pkwy, Carson City, NV 89706, (775) 883-5823, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed; Gardnerville: 1293 US Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville, NV 89410, (775) 301-5912, Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-3 pm, Sun closed type: Drive-in oil change and vehicle maintenance, no appointment needed, since 1983 --- Today's coupons - $10 off full-service oil change - $5 off smog check - $25 off transmission fluid service [See all coupons](https://xpressoilandlube.com/coupons/) - [Home](https://xpressoilandlube.com/) - [Checklists](https://xpressoilandlube.com/checklists/) - Before summer heat # Get the car ready before the summer heat Before the first 90-degree week, have the A/C checked, confirm the coolant level and mix, and test a battery that is more than three years old. Set tire pressure, replace a dirty cabin filter and keep water in the car for long drives across the desert. ★★★★★ 4.7 stars from 952 Google reviews - Run the A/C on max before June If the air is only cool, not cold, the system may be low. An A/C check reads pressures and looks for the obvious before the hottest weeks. - Check coolant level with the engine cold Never open a hot radiator cap. A low reservoir in spring is a sign to look for a slow leak before the heat arrives. - Confirm the coolant mix Coolant protects against boiling as well as freezing. A season of topping off with water weakens both. - Test the battery Heat speeds up the chemical wear inside a battery, and summer is often when a battery weakened by the previous winter gives out. - Set tire pressure in the morning Pressure climbs as the pavement heats up. Set it cold to the number on the door jamb, not the maximum on the sidewall. - Replace a dirty cabin filter A clogged cabin filter cuts airflow from the vents, which feels like weak A/C. Smoke season often follows right behind the heat. - Look at the engine air filter Dry spring wind loads it with dust, and a restricted filter makes the engine work harder on the climb to Tahoe. - Check wiper rubber for sun damage UV cracks the edge even when the blades have barely been used since spring. - Stay on the oil schedule Long hot climbs and stop-and-go traffic in the heat count as severe service in most owner's manuals. - Pack water and shade A gallon of water and a windshield shade make a breakdown on US-95 or on I-80 east of Fernley far more manageable. Reno's airport station averages 65 days a year at 90 F or hotter and about 6 at 100 F or more, with July alone averaging about 24 days over 90 (NOAA 1991-2020). Minden runs slightly hotter, at about 68 days a year. Heat does not break cars all at once. It finds the low refrigerant, the tired coolant and the battery that barely made it through winter, usually on the hottest afternoon in traffic on I-580. ## The three summer failures we see most The first warm week of June brings A/C complaints into all four service centers. Most are a system that has slowly lost refrigerant over a few years, and some are a cabin filter so packed with spring pollen that the fan cannot push air through it. The second pattern is overheating in traffic, where the coolant is low or worn out and the cooling fan is working at its limit. The third surprises people: batteries fail in summer too, and it is often heat that finishes a battery the cold weakened. Each of those is cheaper and less stressful to catch in May than on the shoulder in August. ## What a visit covers Our [A/C service](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/ac-service/) checks the system's performance and pressures and recharges it if it is low. If the check suggests a leak or a failed part, we say so, and the repair goes to a full-service repair shop. A [coolant flush](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/coolant-flush/) replaces worn coolant with the type your manufacturer specifies. A [cabin air filter](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/cabin-air-filter/) swap is fast and you can see the old one before we throw it out. The multi-point check that comes with every full-service [oil change](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/oil-change/) covers the fluid levels, tire pressure, lights and filters, so one stop answers most of this list. ## Plan the visit for a cool morning the bays open at 8 in Reno and Carson City and at 9 in Gardnerville. A weekday morning in May is the calm window before the summer rush. The [summer page](https://xpressoilandlube.com/seasonal/summer/) has more on heat and long drives. ### Sources - [ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals: Reno-Tahoe airport 65.1 days at or above 90 F, 6.0 at or above 100 F, July 23.9 days; Minden 68.3 days, read 2026-10-15) - [carcare.org/car-care-guide/](https://www.carcare.org/car-care-guide/) (Car Care Council guidance on cooling system, battery and filter checks, read 2026-10-15) ### Your service center: Reno Northwest - Call [(775) 787-1000](tel:+17757871000) Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed - Address 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523 [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=6100+Mae+Anne+Ave%2C+Reno%2C+NV+89523&destination_place_id=ChIJ3dFA7yBEmYARYg1CtQTi_Bk) ### Related - [Summer](https://xpressoilandlube.com/seasonal/summer/) - [Summer heat and your car in Northern Nevada](https://xpressoilandlube.com/guides/summer-heat-car-care-nevada/) - [A/C service and recharge](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/ac-service/) - [A/C blowing warm](https://xpressoilandlube.com/problems/ac-blowing-warm/) - [The first 100-degree day and your A/C](https://xpressoilandlube.com/blog/first-100-degree-day/) - [Engine overheating](https://xpressoilandlube.com/problems/engine-overheating/) Drive in. No appointment. Drive out. Locally owned in Northern Nevada since 1983. No appointment, no pressure: we tell you what the inspection found and you decide. [About us](https://xpressoilandlube.com/about/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call your service center or drive in; there is no appointment to make. ### Is it normal for the A/C to drip water under the car? Yes. Clear water from under the passenger side is condensation from the A/C and is normal on a hot day. ### Should I switch to a thicker oil for summer? No, unless the owner's manual says to. Modern multi-grade oils are designed to handle the full temperature range here. ### Will you recharge my A/C if it has a leak? We check first. If the system is losing refrigerant quickly, a recharge alone will not last, and we tell you that before doing anything.