Car Care and Roadside Emergencies · Lesson 3 of 8 · 10 min

Fuel, battery and overheating in a Gulf summer

A UAE summer is hard work for a car: the cooling system, battery and anything left inside all suffer. A few habits keep you from being stranded on a hot roadside.

Batteries hate heat

A Sharjah garage owner quoted by Khaleej Times (July 2026) says heat shortens battery life significantly, and many people only notice when the car refuses to start.
The same mechanic suggests testing any battery over three years old, especially before peak summer. Most garages and many tyre shops can test it in minutes.
The RAC advises keeping terminals clean and tight, and having the battery checked at a garage if the engine struggles to start.
Warning signs: slow cranking when you start, dim lights at idle, or a battery warning light on the dashboard.

Cooling system and overheating

A Dubai mechanic quoted by Khaleej Times says the cooling system works hardest in summer and a small coolant leak can quickly become a major engine problem.
Watch the temperature gauge. If it starts climbing past the normal range, slow down and stop the car at a safe point, switch the engine off and call for recovery (Gulf News, June 2025, quoting a Dubai garage owner).
Do not open the radiator or coolant cap while the engine is hot. Wait until it is fully cold, and if you are unsure, leave it to the recovery service.
Check under the car weekly for drips of coolant, oil or fuel, and look for cracked hoses or damaged wiring (Khaleej Times, July 2026).

Fuel sense

Do not run the tank close to empty in summer: being stranded with no fuel means waiting outside in extreme heat.
Make sure the fuel cap clicks shut after filling; Gulf News warns that loose caps let vapour build up.
At the pump, switch the engine off, do not smoke and follow the station's rules.
Check which fuel grade your handbook recommends. Using a higher grade than needed usually just costs more.

What not to leave in a hot car

Gulf News (June 2025) warns never to leave water bottles, lighters, aerosol cans, hand sanitiser bottles or electronic devices inside a parked car in summer.
Remove phone chargers and power banks when parked: they can heat up and are a fire risk.
Dubai Police (June 2026) warned that unauthorised aftermarket accessories, such as poorly fitted electrical add-ons, are a major cause of vehicle fires.
Never leave a child, an older person or a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes with the windows open.

A summer car kit

Drinking water (replace it regularly rather than leaving bottles to bake for months), a sun shade and a phone charger you take inside with you.
A reflective warning triangle and a reflective vest for breakdowns.
A tyre pressure gauge, a torch and basic gloves.
Your insurer's or recovery service's number saved in your phone and written on a card in the glovebox.

Practise in real life

Tick each one off when you have done it.

Look at the temperature gauge in a family car and note where the needle normally sits once the engine is warm.
Empty a family car of lighters, aerosols, sanitiser and power banks, and pack a small summer kit instead.
Ask a parent or garage when the car battery was last replaced or tested, and note the date.

Remember

Test batteries before summer, especially older ones.
Rising temperature gauge: stop safely, engine off, call for help.
Never open a hot radiator cap.
Lighters, aerosols, sanitiser and power banks do not belong in a hot car.

Note: Much of the summer advice comes from mechanics quoted in Khaleej Times and Gulf News rather than an official body; it is consistent with RAC guidance. The RAC advises checking coolant only when cold; the explanation that hot coolant is pressurised is general mechanical knowledge rather than a quoted line. The fuel station safety and 'do not leave people or pets in cars' points are general good practice.

Check yourself

1. What should you do if the temperature gauge climbs past normal while driving?

2. Which item does Gulf News warn should not be left in a parked car in summer?

3. What did Dubai Police flag as a major cause of vehicle fires in its June 2026 warning?

4. According to a mechanic quoted by Khaleej Times, which batteries should be tested before peak summer?

5. Why is it unsafe to open a radiator cap on a hot engine?