After a long, cold winter, your car needs some TLC before you hit the road this spring and summer.
Spring is the perfect time to bring your car into your local auto repair shop to address the consequences of cold temperatures, icy conditions, road salt and sand before they become serious issues.
Here's 8 Tips For Spring Car Maintenance
1. Change your oil and filters
Regular oil and filter changes are essential to keeping your engine healthy. Oil is important for picking up impurities as it lubricates and cools your engine, but as that oil ages it becomes less effective. Failing to replace engine oil can result in higher fuel consumption, poor engine performance and, possibly, cause severe engine damage or decrease the life of your engine.
2. Check your fluids
Checking your fluids goes hand-in-hand with changing your oil and filter. Check your power steering, brake, transmission, windshield washer fluids and coolant. Top up any fluids that are low and flush/replace them as recommended in your car’s owner’s manual.
3. Tire maintenance
Spring tire maintenance starts with replacing your winter tires with your regular tires. But it’s also important to check and maintain proper tire pressure, rotate your tires every 10,000 kms and monitor for tread wear. Tires provide the only point of contact between your car and the road, so it’s critically important to make sure your tires are well maintained.
4. Replace your wiper blades
Wiper blades can take a beating during the winter. It’s a good idea to replace them in the spring when the onset of spring showers can lead to reduced visibility.
5. Check your battery
Your battery takes a beating in cold temperatures. Spring is a great time to have it tested and ensure it is mounted securely and its connections are strong and free of corrosion. Batteries more than five years old may need to be replaced.
6. Inspect your belts and hoses
Sub-zero temperatures can harden and damage rubber. In the Spring, it is important to check all your hoses and belts for any damage. Replacing any belts may also require replacing the tensioner and pulleys to ensure the new belt does not slip.
