🌿 Folk Prescriptions

After the Start of Autumn, temperature differences widen: hot during the day, cool in the mornings and evenings. Throughout summer, your car has endured high temperatures and rain, earning its merits. Now, both driver and vehicle are exhausted. As the weather turns cooler, immunity naturally declines. Therefore, car owners must not forget seasonal maintenance for their vehicles.
Interior needs thorough sterilization and cleaning
After a long, hot summer, carpets, floor mats, and other interior materials are already covered in dust and bacteria. Under high temperatures, these accumulate and emit unpleasant odors. If windows are frequently opened, some of the smell might be dispersed. But after the Start of Autumn, as the weather cools down and windows are closed, cabin air becomes stagnant, and odors and bacteria pose health risks. If left unattended, the cabin’s air circulation will deteriorate severely by winter. Thus, now is the perfect time to perform a comprehensive interior sterilization and cleaning.
A full interior cleaning and maintenance typically includes cleaning, sterilizing, deodorizing, and polishing seats, trunk, carpet, floor mat, dashboard, door panels, etc. If your car has genuine leather seats, the dry autumn wind may cause cracking. Consider applying leather polish to maintain surface sheen and softness. Plastic components exposed to summer sun may have aged and turned discolored. These can be restored using a rejuvenating polish. Choosing appropriate cleaning and polishing agents is critical: use neutral cleaners. Excessive alkaline content can damage leather and velvet upholstery. Although alkaline cleaners may appear very clean initially, they unknowingly harm your vehicle.
Clean or replace the air conditioner filter
During summer, vehicles often drive through flooded areas, causing mud to adhere to the condenser below the air conditioner. Over time, mud and dust accumulate, seriously affecting the air conditioner’s lifespan. Therefore, inspect and service the air conditioning system.
The car’s air conditioning system circulates air through the blower fan, evaporator coil in the refrigeration system, small radiator in the heating system, and ducts. Whenever the blower is turned on or the air intake mode is set to recirculation, air enters these systems regardless of whether cooling is used. Dust, moisture, bacteria, and other contaminants accumulate on surfaces during circulation. Over time, mold and other bacteria grow, emitting unpleasant odors and potentially harming the respiratory system and skin, causing allergic reactions. This directly impacts health and may lead to malfunctions such as reduced cooling efficiency and decreased airflow. Dust and bacteria gradually build up on the air filter. Once accumulation reaches a certain level, the above issues arise. Regular maintenance is essential to maintain good air quality.
Replace coolant with antifreeze
Some drivers prefer using tap water instead of antifreeze in summer. After the Start of Autumn, as temperatures drop suddenly with cold fronts, the engine cooling system may malfunction. Drivers should promptly drain tap water from the radiator and replace it with antifreeze. The typical replacement cycle for antifreeze is every 2 years. If your car has been using antifreeze all summer, no immediate replacement is needed. Additionally, clean the engine cooling system before adding new antifreeze.
Under normal conditions, antifreeze should be replaced every 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers. Proper procedures for replacement and refilling include:
First, remove the radiator cap and open the drain valve to release the coolant. Then, connect a rubber hose to a tap and insert it into the radiator fill port. Open the tap to let tap water continuously flush the engine cooling system. While flushing, keep the engine idling. Continue until clear water flows out of the radiator. Close the tap, wait for the cooling system to fully drain, then close the drain valve. Flush the coolant reservoir. Pour antifreeze into the radiator fill port until full. Remove the reservoir cap and add antifreeze to the “FULL” mark. Do not exceed this line. Replace both caps and tighten securely. Start the engine and let it idle for 2–3 minutes. Then, open the radiator cap again. Since air has been expelled, the coolant level will drop. Add more antifreeze to refill completely. Finally, secure the radiator cap tightly. Note: Never open the radiator cap or drain valve when the coolant is hot to avoid burns.
Industry professionals warn against using water instead of antifreeze. Experimental results confirm that water corrodes metal parts in the cooling system at an average rate 50 times higher than antifreeze.
Audio system: Protect against moisture and heat
Audio system failures fall into two categories: those caused by misuse and those caused by weather. Most new cars come equipped with CD players. During late summer and early autumn, the main factors affecting audio performance are high temperature and humidity. Since car audio systems are usually installed on the upper dashboard, using a sunshade helps avoid direct sunlight. If window seals are not tight, replace them promptly, otherwise speakers may rust or get damaged, potentially causing short circuits and burning out the main unit. During the rainy season, increased humidity causes condensation on CD discs, leading to reading difficulties. Clean CDs periodically. If you’ve upgraded to a CD drive, avoid installing it beneath the floor or seat area due to moisture. Install it at a higher position in the car, but not near the rear windshield where excessive heat accelerates aging of electronic components and laser heads.
Additionally, many car owners enjoy road trips during the transition from summer to autumn. The most important thing to remember is dust protection. The laser head in CD players is the most expensive and fragile component. Although car audio systems are designed with dust resistance in mind, poor domestic road conditions make dust protection especially critical. When driving on bad roads, close windows promptly. Maintain overall cleanliness inside the car.