Spring is here and its time to get out and enjoy the open road. But before you do, there are some simple things that you can do to maintain your vehicle and get it ready for the warmer months and extended road trips.
While ongoing maintenance is always important, it is especially beneficial to your vehicle’s performance and safety to make sure it is well-maintained during the seasonal transition from winter to spring. During the winter, your vehicle is subjected to cold temperatures and harsh road conditions like ice, salt, and potholes. Not only do these conditions create dirt and grime in your engine, but the cold temperatures or road conditions may crack or damage certain parts.
Four Key Maintenance Items
Transitioning your vehicle to warm weather driving is like “spring cleaning” for your vehicle by focusing on four key maintenance areas, as follows:
Time for a change
Your vehicle’s motor oil can get grimy and sluggish through the winter months. A complete oil and filter change can refresh your engine parts with clean motor oil. While checking the oil, check other vital vehicle fluids like your steering and brake fluids, along with your windshield wiper fluid. Top off fluids, where necessary. If you notice significant loss of fluids, check with our service professionals at Campus Repair. Keeping an eye on these fluids will help your vehicle handle the change in seasons and temperatures.
Keep your cool
Keeping your vehicle’s cooling system well-maintained ensures that you won’t find yourself on the side of the road in July with an overheated engine. The easiest way to do that is by replacing the coolant. Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water and is designed to keep your engine from freezing in cold temps and from getting too hot in hot temps. Coolant flows through your engine parts to keep the temperature maintained. If parts are not properly cooled, their performance and function is quickly diminished, resulting in failure.
Stay charged
Your vehicle’s battery works overtime in winter months to start the ignition on those cold winter mornings. A dead battery is no fun when you’re stuck out in the middle of nowhere and need a jump. Not only is it helpful to have your battery’s charge checked by a professional, the battery connections should be inspected and cleaned. Connections can get dirty and corroded over time and impact the operation of your battery. Your battery only has a lifespan of a few years, so make sure it’s still in good shape or have it replaced.
Maintain proper ground
Your vehicle’s tires react very differently in cold vs. hot temperatures. That’s why it is important to check the air pressure, and make sure your tires are properly inflated for warmer weather according to your manufacturer specifications. While checking your tire pressure, take a few moments to examine the tire treads for wear and tear.
- Is there balding or wire showing?
- Do you see cracks on the sidewall or treads?
- Are treads deep enough to pass the “penny test”?
Stick a penny into the tread upside down. If you cannot see Abraham Lincoln’s head, then your treads are deep enough. If you see some or all of Lincoln’s head, your treads may be overly worn.
If you want to get your vehicle ready for the the warmer weather, contact us today at Campus Repair to schedule a full vehicle inspection. We will inspect your vehicle for winter wear and provide recommendations on spring-time maintenance items.
Don’t wait until it’s too late – spring forward with a plan to get your vehicle in top shape!