During the rainy season, you may find yourself driving through flooded streets. This isn't ideal and can cause some serious damage to your car. If this happens, use these tips to check on your car.

Tips to Help You Deal With a Flooded Car

The rainy season can mean plenty of issues on the road and for your car. If you're expecting flooded streets, this can mean tons of issues for your car's systems. If you've already driven through high water and are concerned for your car, use these tips to check it out and care for it properly.

Avoid Driving Through High Water

This is easy enough to say, but it's a piece of advice that shouldn't be taken lightly. There are times when this can't be avoided, such as when you get caught in a heavy and long rainstorm, but do your best to stay off streets that are flooded. If you know a storm is coming or if it's already raining, don't leave your house if it's not absolutely necessary. If you're already on the road when a storm hits, stay towards the left side of the road since this tends to be the area that gets least flooded and drive slowly.

Check on Your Brakes

After driving through a flooded street, your brakes may not be able to work at their best. It's best if you don't step on the gas too hard since your brakes may have a harder time getting your car to stop. Tap on your brakes a few times to help them dry out faster. If your car suffered water damage after being in a flooded area for a while, once you get your car to start, take it over to a mechanic to get the brakes checked. Since dirt and water can get in there and mess with the functionality of the system, you'll want to get them checked.

Look at the Air Filter

Checking the air filter is a must after driving through a flooded area. Since most cars have the air intake quite low, this makes it easier for water to get into the engine. The air filter is generally very easy to find and remove, so this should be an easy enough task. If you notice the air filter is wet, then it's very likely that your engine has water in it or is flooded. This can be a serious issue, so don't take it lightly. To keep your car in great shape, be sure to give it a synthetic oil change in Austin, TX. Click here to purchase AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil, which can keep your engine in better shape for a long time. To find more products like this, contact AMSOIL Dealer-Carol Bell. Their friendly oil pros will be happy to help you find the products you need. Give them a call at (512) 658-0357 or stop by their online store to learn more or to place your order.

Clean the Undercarriage

Most cars are pretty low, which means the undercarriage will get wet when driving through a flooded area. Not only will it get wet, but flood water can also carry dirt and other debris that will negatively affect the undercarriage and the components in the area. Take a look at all the parts under the car and check for mud or dirt. If you find any debris stuck to your car's parts, get this professionally cleaned because it can lead to rust and corrosion.

Take a Look at the Fluids

Most of the fluid reservoirs in newer model cars are sealed, but they may still get water in them. You'll want to be certain there is no water in your fluids since this can cause damage to some parts of your car. To check your oil, remove the oil dipstick and check it for water droplets. If you see any, then you should definitely change your oil. You can also look at your fluids to decide if they've been contaminated. If they look cloudy or diluted, then it's definitely a good idea to drain them and replace them. The fuel may be hard to check, but you can siphon gas out to check for water. Just make sure you take it out of the bottom since water will sink to the bottom.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Austin, TX

To ensure your car stays in great shape, give it a synthetic oil change in Austin, TX. The friendly oil pros at AMSOIL Dealer-Carol Bell will be happy to help you find the products you need. Give them a call at (512) 658-0357 to learn more or to place an order.