Preparing Your Car for the Dry Season- Before the Sun Turns It into Scrap

Marketing Peach

— 3 min read
Preparing Your Car for the Dry Season- Before the Sun Turns It into Scrap

Let’s keep it real: Kenya’s dry season is a savage beast for your car.You leave the house in the morning, and before you hit the tarmac at Kitengela, your windscreen is a dusty masterpiece. By midday, your dashboard is hotter than a fishmonger’s jiko, and your engine is sweating like you in a jam-packed matatu at Globe Roundabout.

Sound familiar? Mmmh.

Here’s the thing: the dry season isn’t just about sunny skies and dusty selfies. It’s the silent car killer. Overheating engines, clogged filters, brittle tyres, and dead batteries are waiting for the right moment to embarrass you on Mombasa Road.

The fix? Simple, smart dry-season car care. Small checks today, big savings tomorrow. Or as Kenyans say: usijione mjanja, utajua hujui

Let’s dive into 10 easy tips that could save you thousands- and keep you from making awkward “mechanic please help” calls when you’re stuck on Thika Road.

1. Cooling System: Your Engine’s Bestie

Think of your cooling system as your engine’s ride-or-die. When it quits, so does your engine.

🔥 Fact check: Over 60% of engine breakdowns in Kenya during dry months are heat-related.

What to do:

  • Use a 50:50 coolant mix (ethylene glycol + distilled water). Tap water? Big NO- unless you want rust to RSVP inside your radiator.
  • Check radiator hoses. If they look like your cracked Nairobi pavements, replace them ASAP.
  • Clean out dust and debris from the radiator (Ksh 500 - 1,000 at most car washes).
  • Confirm radiator fans actually spin. If not, that overheating story will write itself.

Why bother? Because nothing kills your vibe like bonnet-up drama on Waiyaki Way.

2. Air Filters: Dust is the Devil

The dry season is basically a dust festival, and your engine is the VIP guest. Problem? Dust + engine = choked performance.

What to do:

  • Check and replace engine air filters regularly (Ksh 500–1,500).
  • Cabin filters matter too- if your AC smells like a dusty mpesa shop, it’s time.
  • Driving off-road or in shags? Check even more often.

Pro tip: Clogged filters = poor fuel economy. Translation? You’re donating free money to the petrol station guy.

3. Tyres: Hot Roads, Hot Problems

Ever seen a tyre blowout on Mombasa Road? That could be you if you ignore this.

What to do:

  • Check tyre pressure (heat expands air- don’t overinflate).
  • Inspect for cracks or bulges. Minimum legal tread depth? 1.6mm. For safety? 3mm.
  • Rotate and balance every 10,000 km (Ksh 500–1,000 per wheel).

Remember: tyres are literally the only thing between you and tarmac. Don’t skimp.

4. Battery: The Silent Victim

Dry heat kills batteries quietly- by evaporating fluid and frying internals.

What to do:

  • If not maintenance-free, top up with distilled water monthly.
  • Clean terminals with baking soda + old toothbrush (DIY level: primary school science experiment).
  • Test your battery if it’s 3+ years old (free at most garages).

Nothing says “stress” like a dead battery when you’re late for a chama.

5. Fluids: The Lifeblood

Fluids disappear faster in dry heat. Ignore them, and you’re writing a cheque for repairs soon.

What to do:• Check oil, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids.• Use hot-climate-friendly oil (10W-40 or 15W-40).• Change oil if it’s dark/gritty (Ksh 2,000–4,000).• Top up windshield washer fluid- you’ll need it for dusty screens.

6. AC: Because Sweat is Not a Look

Dry season + traffic = mini sauna in your car.

What to do:

  • Test your AC now- not when you’re melting in Lang’ata traffic.
  • AC refill: Ksh 3,000–5,000. Vent cleaning: Ksh 500–1,000.
  • Cabin filter = fresh air.

Comfort isn’t luxury- it keeps you alert behind the wheel.

7. Sun & Paint: UV is a Savage

Kenyan sun doesn’t play. It fades paint and cracks dashboards.

What to do:• Wax your car (Ksh 1,000–2,000).• Use a dashboard polish or cover.• Park in shade or use a sunshade (Ksh 500–1,500).

Your car deserves better than looking like a faded matatu.

8. Wipers & Windows: See Clearly, Drive Safely

Dry season dust = streaky windscreens that blind you.

What to do:• Replace worn-out wipers (Ksh 500–1,500).• Clean glass with proper cleaner- not that kitchen soap hack.

9. Undercarriage: Silent Sufferer

Dust and stones under your car can wreak havoc.

What to do:• Inspect for leaks or loose parts.• Undercarriage wash (Ksh 500–1,000).

10. Emergency Kit: Dry Season Survival Pack

Keep:• Inflated spare tyre• Jack + wheel spanner• Jumper cables• Water (for you & radiator)• Torch + batteries• First aid kit

Pre-packed kits go for Ksh 2,000–3,500 at supermarkets.

Final Word: Don’t Preach It, Peach It!

Dry season car care is simple: prevention beats expensive repairs.

  • Check the cooling system.
  • Change filters.
  • Mind tyres, fluids, and AC.
  • Protect your car from the sun.

Or, if your car is already a headache, maybe it’s time for an upgrade with Kenya’s #1 used-car marketplace!

At Peach Cars, every car goes through a 288-point inspection- battery, AC, tyres, engine- you name it. We don’t just sell cars, we sell peace of mind.

✅ Start fresh today: PeachCars.co.ke 📞 Call us: +254 709 726 900

DIY car care? Smart. Driving a verified Peach car? Smarter.

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