Getting Your Car Ready for Spring
Winter weather can cause a lot of wear on your vehicle. With the spring season right around the corner, it’s time for a spring tune up and clean up. Here are our tips for spring and summer preparation:
Check the tires: The tires on your car take a beating during the winter. Check your tires and make sure that they are still in good condition. Tire pressure changes approximately one pound per square inch for every ten degrees of change in the air temperature, so it’s important to check tire pressure in the spring. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended pressure for your tires.
Check the wipers: Your wipers work hard all winter removing dirt and debris. Check the rubber on them to make sure that they are not worn out. Windshield wipers should be replaced about once a year. Since spring usually brings a lot of rain, you will most likely need to use them often over the next few months. Also make sure to refill the wiper fluid.
Rotate the tires: Rotating your tires will extend the tread life of your tires, and should be done about every 5,000-10,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual for exact intervals.
Check the brakes: Your brakes should also be checked in the spring. Winter driving can put a lot of stress on them and wear them out. Check both your front and rear brakes.
Change the oil: Some manufacturers recommend changing to a heavyweight oil to help the engine perform better during hot weather. Most cars now have recommended oil grades of 5W-30, 10W-30 or 10W-40, which are all multiviscous grades, your owner’s manual can tell you which one is the best for your vehicle. Make sure to change the oil filter each time you change the oil.
Change the air filter: The air filter prevents dust and other impurities from getting into the combustion chambers of the cylinders. Replacing a clogged filter can improve mileage by as much as ten percent. Check the air filter about every six months, and more often if you live in a dusty area.
Check the battery and spark plugs: Make sure the battery and the connections are secure and free of dirt and corrosion. Also check the spark plugs at the same time. Spark plugs can fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles. That can cause a lot of wear and tear in the form of electrical and chemical erosion. Dirty spark plugs can cause misfiring, which wastes fuel.
Check the paint: Small scratches that your car gets during the winter can be touched up in the spring. Buy a small bottle of paint from the car dealer and use it to touch up the minor scratches.
Clean it up: Clean the inside of your car first. Remove the floor mats and vacuum everything. Remove the spare tire form the trunk and vacuum there too. Before returning the spare, check its pressure. It may need air. Next, get rid of the road grime and salt on the undercarriage. Road grime and salt can damage your vehicle by eating away at the undercarriage. Use a garden hose to clean the undercarriage. Then, wash and wax the outside of the car. Ordinary dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water and a clean, soft sponge will do nicely, using a different sponge for the body and the tire rims. Then buff dry and apply a protective coat of wax if necessary.
