The Death Valley is famous among people of America due to its beauty and extreme weather conditions. It is so hot that cars are breaking down in death valley. When alone in this region, you can hear the sound of sands.
Do Cars Break Down in Death Valley? Cars break down in Death Valley due to scorching heat, which can overheat its engine and cause the melting of different plastic parts. The issue also comes from dust and dirt, driving on unpaved roads, and heat from rocks. You can also face the problem because of the use of air conditioners that can overheat the engine. It is necessary to stay calm when your vehicle breaks down, drink plenty of water, and not move here and there. Keep a tarp, map, water bottles, GPS devices, and a spare tire with you.
You should not visit this National Park alone because of its extreme weather conditions and wild animals that can hurt you. Moreover, an alone person cannot survive there in case of emergencies.
What is Death Valley?
It is the largest national park that is located in America. Most of its part is located in California, also spread in Nevada.
It is the driest spot with the least or no rainfalls, and the temperature in these areas is also high. It is named Death Valley because a group of pioneers lost there decades ago, and their colleagues thought this valley was their grave.
People do not want to go there because of the safety threat in this desert area. It is well known due to its beauty, but people are afraid to visit there.
Why do cars break down in Death Valley?
Many of my friends who visit this place complain that several parts of their car start to break down in that area for the following reasons.
Scorching heat
It is an extremely driest place due to no water supply and landscape. The insufficiency of water makes this place challenging to live here and also increases its temperature and scorching heat.
The temperature increases more on summer days, and people cannot survive without an air conditioner or water.
Fluctuation in temperature is due to fewer or no rainfalls. When you drive your car in this scorching heat, it can cause overheating of the engine and its parts.
The overheated engine produces misfiring and causes the breakdown of several components. On average, summer days’ temperature rises to more than 50°C.
Presence of dust and dirt
The dust and dirt on the roads get stuck in various parts and cause a problem. In addition, the presence of dust clogged the air filters of the cabin and exhaust system.
The exhaust system’s clogged filters cannot provide fresh air to the engine. As a result, the engine can overheat due to less or no supply of outside fresh air.
Moreover, the dust also accumulates in various parts, making them faulty and non-functional. Due to a clogged fuel filter, the engine takes more power to supply fuel in the ignition chamber.
More power from the engine produces overheating in its components, and they cannot work well due to high temperatures.
Unpaved roads
The unpaved roads are rough roads that are not smooth and covered with a coating of asphalt and concrete.
It is challenging to drive rental cars on these uneven roads.
You can only drive modern and latest vehicles that have high engine power on these surfaces.
The low quality or those with less engine horsepower breaks down in this region due to overheating the engine.
Sandy areas
The sand, dirt, and gravel are also present on these roads, making driving difficult and impossible.
You can only take your four-wheel drive cars in these regions to keep all the wheels engaged in these sandy areas.
Sometimes the wheels get stuck in the sand, making it difficult for you to escape this situation. This is because the engine provides more power to get out from the sand, and the overheating cause a breakdown.
Use of air conditioners
People cannot drive in these areas without air-conditioned cars because of its extremely high temperature and scorching heat.
The use of AC exerts added pressure on the engines. In addition, the compressor of air conditioners draws power from the engine shaft.
The continuous use of air conditioners for a long time takes more power from the engine and causes overheating issues.
Many people also complain that plastic parts start to melt due to high temperatures.
You can fix this problem by going to this national park on winter days. You do not need to turn on your ac during winter days, making your vehicle less prone to overheating.
The heat from rocks and soil
The rocks and mountains are also present in this national park, which is the primary reason for car heat production.
The rocks release more heat which can cause the melting of several plastic parts of your automobiles.
In addition, many people also added that the plastic flaps on the lower side to keep the mud away also get burned.
The number of plant growth is also less in these regions, and rocks or soils absorb more summer heat which is harmful to visitors and their vehicles.
The absorbed heat in the rocks and soils radiates back and increases the environment’s temperature.
It is dry, arid, and hot because of its location between two mountainous regions and lower in elevation.
What can you do if your car breaks down in Death Valley?
It is a very serious issue when your car breaks down in Death Valley due to overheating. Here are some tips for you to follow:
Stay with your vehicle
You have to stay with your vehicle when your car, unfortunately, breaks down in the desert and wait for help from your friends.
Parking your car on the safe side of the road is necessary to prevent accidents. Attach a piece of cloth to the window so passersby can approach you and find that you need help from them.
Call your friend to tell them about your exact location so they can inform the emergency services. You can also call 911 or tow vehicles after telling them about your accurate location.
Do not move here and there
You should not move here and there to see help because it can make survival difficult in this scorching temperature.
The temperature is high during the day as compared to the night. So when you move here and there in this extreme weather, it can make you dehydrated.
Moreover, the other vehicles also come at high speed and can hit you.
Drink plenty of water
You must stay calm in case of this emergency condition. You should take out your water bottle and find a safe place to wait.
You should drink plenty of water in this extreme weather. Sitting in your car during the daytime is best, and keeping the window down for fresh air.
Sit on the front side of your because it can provide shade and prevent you from sun heat.
What are the things to consider before driving in Death Valley?
You have to take care of the following things when you plan your trip to the national park. These considerations will keep you safe in this Death Valley.
Fill the gas tank
It is necessary to fill your gas tank before going on the trip. You should also check the place from where leakage of oil is possible to identify the issue.
In addition, use the gas according to your vehicle to reduce the chances of any problem. The filling of the complete tank is beneficial because there are few gas stations in this park.
Four gas stations are in this park, far from each other.
Take water to tackle emergencies
You should also take water bottles to cool your car in emergencies. Sometimes the automobiles become overheated in this region due to driving on unpaved roads.
Take out the water bottles and flow them on the front side to keep the engine cool. Moreover, it is also necessary to keep yourself hydrated in this dry weather.
Do not feed animals
Wild animals in this Death Valley are harmful to human beings. Therefore, you should not feed any nearby animals or birds in this region.
The animals can hurt you when you want to feed them. Cayotes and ground squirrels are common animals that live there and keep themselves hidden.
Visitors cannot see them on the road while driving because they keep themselves in hidden places.
Check the Car Air conditioner
You should check that your car’s air conditioner is working well and that there is no issue with its components.
The vehicles that with air conditioners are not suitable for these places. You cannot go there without ac in your automobile because of drastic weather.
Try to go in the early morning
It is necessary to visit these places in the early morning for the safety of people and your vehicle. The heat in the early morning is less compared to the mid of the day.
In addition, early morning is beneficial for your safety so that you can come back before evening.
It is not a safe place for living during the night because of the presence of wild animals and extreme weather conditions that make survival difficult.
Use spare tires
You should take spare tires to tackle emergencies while driving on poor roads. You have to use high-quality tires in these regions for safe driving.
The low-quality tires become flat and melt due to extreme road heat. The Tread surface of wheels also becomes flat while driving on hot road surfaces.
Take spare tires with you to replace them in case of damage.
Take a map or GPS device
Sometimes mobile phone signal coverage is impossible in these areas because it is between two large mountains.
You cannot turn on your location or contact your friends and other persons using mobile phones. Therefore, it is better to keep the map with you.
You can also reach your correct location by using GPS locations.
Use a tarp
Keeping the tarps or tarpaulin with you is the best idea to make survival possible in case the car breaks down due to high temperatures.
Tarp camping is easy, and these are lighter weight and waterproof material that is easy to carry in bags.
You can make a shad by using tarpaulin to prevent yourself from sun heat.
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