Car maintenance is only important during the winter, right? Wrong! As the snow slowly melts away you should start thinking about de-winterizing your car and making sure that everything is ready for spring driving. Here are our top four spring car maintenance tips!
Change and Check Your Tires.
When the roads are snowy and slippery, winter tires can help prevent dangerous accidents. But, during the spring, those tires aren’t needed anymore. The most common change drivers make for their cars in the spring is changing their winter tires to all-seasons.
But did you know that you have to check the air pressure of your all-season tires? Even though the tires aren’t being used, they can naturally lose air. You can easily top up your air pressure at most gas stations. Check your owner’s manual to find your vehicle’s recommended optimal pressure. If you’re not comfortable filing your tires by yourself, you can take your vehicle to an automotive service center.
Top-Up Your Oil and Change Your Oil Filter.
The car’s oil cools and lubricates the engine. Not having enough or old oil can damage the vehicle’s engine. Car manufacturers recommend that you change your oil every 3,000 miles or every three months (whichever comes first). That means that if the last time you topped up your oil was before winter started or around November, it’s the right time to replace the oil again.
Do you really need to replace the oil filter too? Yes! Here’s why. The oil filter protects the vehicle from potential damage by blocking dirty contaminants such as dust, oil, and debris from the engine. Together, the oil and the oil filter work together to ensure the vehicle’s engine runs smoothly. While you’re changing the oil, you’ll also want to top up or replace the power steering fluid, brake and transmission fluid, and your windshield washer fluid.
Clean the Interior and Exterior of Your Vehicle
Salt, dirt, and dust can build up both on the inside and outside of your vehicle making it look dirty and unkempt. It’s not your fault; winter can be brutal on any vehicle. Cue, spring cleaning! Take your vehicle to a car wash to get rid of all of the salt marks on the outside of the car. Change out our mats to eliminate dirt and grime that has accumulated during the winter. Use a handheld vacuum in smaller, hard-to-reach areas.
There you have it!
Protect yourself from the open road! Those are our top four spring car maintenance tips to keep you safe during the spring. AiA Insurance can also help you with all of your auto insurance needs. In the unfortunate case of a car accident, our auto insurance will help protect your wallet.
