Hurricane Preparedness for Your Vehicle

Hurricanes are a force of nature that can wreak emotional, physical, and financial havoc. August, September, and October are the three months that see the most hurricane activity during the six month hurricane season. If you have lived in Central Florida for more than a couple of years you know how stressful it can be to prepare for the unknown - whether you stay and ride it out or hit the road and evacuate to a safe place.

In addition to preparing your home, you want to make sure your vehicles are prepared as well. Here are some tips to ensure your car is prepared to weather any storm.
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1. Always fill up your fuel tank once it reaches 1/4
It is a good habit to fill up your fuel tank once it reaches 1/4 instead of waiting until it is empty. This habit is also helpful in case of an emergency (hurricane or not). If you need to jump in your vehicle and go somewhere at a moment’s notice, you don’t want to get stranded because you ran out of fuel.

Also, for those of you that drive your vehicle until the yellow empty light is flashing, you are likely shortening the longevity of your fuel pump. The fuel inside the tank keeps the mechanical pump cool but when the fuel level drops below 1/4 the fuel pump is no longer surrounded by fuel and will operate at higher temperatures. Over time this can shorten the life of a fuel pump. 

2. Park away from trees and poles
If you decide to stay and ride out a hurricane you will want to park your vehicle in a location that is away from trees, poles, or any other object that can fall on it. Depending on your situation, a good place to park vehicles is inside a parking garage. This works well if you have multiple vehicles.  Just keep one at home during the hurricane.

3. Never drive through standing water
If you have to drive during the hurricane, which is NOT advisable, never drive through standing water. Driving through standing water significantly increases the chances of getting stuck and having water intrusion inside the vehicle, drivetrain, or powertrain components (engine, transmission, differentials, etc).

4. Don't put off repairs
If you have been putting off on making a repair or diagnosing a concern, noise, operational issue, then now is the time! Vehicle problems have a way of occurring at the worst possible time, like when you just put all the groceries in your trunk and now it won't start, or if you are evacuating for a hurricane and get stuck on the Interstate because it overheated. Plan ahead and YOU can pick the time to down your vehicle to address repairs or diagnose concerns. 
 
With proper planning and preparation you and your vehicle can weather any hurricane.

​If you'd like to ensure your car is ready for anything, make an appointment with us today and call 407-322-8415.