Preparing your car for Winter is on everybody’s to-do list. From swapping tires to checking belts and hoses, we make sure we don’t miss anything. But what about spring? Winter is cold and harsh, whereas Spring is often warmer and more pleasant.
In today’s post, we will let you in on 7 Simple Spring Car Care Tips to help you take care of your vehicle this spring.
1. Swapping Your Winter Tires
With Winter comes slippery roads that are hard to navigate or drive on. Thick snow can also make your vehicle work extra hard even to simply drive forward. This is why winter tires are designed to offer more grip and control in harsh conditions.
However, in Spring, the roads are somewhat dryer and the air is warmer. You don’t need the extra grip anymore. While Winter tires are great in the snow, they lack traction on dry or wet roads. This is why it’s better to switch to Summer tires, unless you are running all-season tires in the first place.
Take off your winter tires, wash off the salt stain on them, and store them in a cool and dry place till next Winter.
2. Give It a Thorough Clean
Now that the tires are off, give your car a thorough cleaning both on the inside and the outside. Take off all the Winter salt stains from road-salting, clean the interior, and remove all the slush and grime which has settled on your vehicle over the winter.
Once cleaned, apply any sort of car wax to protect the paint and bring the old shine out.
3. Get Under Your Bonnet
Once your car is back to looking like brand new, it’s time to make it run like it’s brand new. Start by looking at the engine oil level. Check your oil filter, look for leaks or spills because of a bad gasket, also see if your check engine light is on or not.
Also, make sure to inspect your batteries as they might have discharged. Other things to look for are brake and transmission fluid levels, power steering fluid, windshield washer solvents, etc.
All these fluids are quite common and extremely affordable. You can easily buy them at any local car store.
4. Check Your Wipers
Wipers are used extensively in Winter to keep snow, sleet and hail off the windshield. They keep your vision clear so you can drive safely. However extensive use of them makes the wiper blade lose all of its rubber, and it starts to make a squeaking sound.
Winter frost can cause random wear and tear on the blade. In Spring you might not have frost but you still need your wipers for the random showers and keeping the dust off.
So, if your wiper blades have wear and tear or make high-pitched noises, it’s time to get new ones. Do make sure to take measurements before going for the purchase.
5. Think About Adjusting Tire Pressure
Tire pressure in Winter will keep reducing due to low temperatures. This calls for regular pressure checks and the need to keep refilling your tires. However, as the temperature rises the pressure will automatically increase by one pound per square inch for every 5.5 degrees Celsius.
Suddenly having high tire pressure in spring is common due to a rise in temp. Hence, it is always suggested to adjust your car’s tire pressure, prepping for the Spring it is generally recommended to have a pressure between 30-35 PSI.
6. Work on Your Brakes
Brake checking is one of the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance. After all, good brakes can be the deciding factor between an accident and a near-miss. Making sure that your brakes are working properly should always take priority.
On average, a car needs a new set of brake pads at around every 50,000 miles, or if it is making any high-pitched screeching sound or has reduced braking performance.
You can also physically check if your brake pads are worn out. Also, see if the brake lights are on or not. If yes, it’s better to get them inspected once.
7. Do an Equipment Check
Last but not least, do a quick equipment check. Before running off on your Spring road trip, make sure that all the electronics are working. This includes everything from the AC to the brake lights.
Once you’re done with the electronics go for a quick drive to see if it is running like it used to. Since roads in winter are harsh and full of uneven surfaces it can put a lot of stress on your vehicle’s suspension and steering, causing it to misalign.
Satisfied with all these tests, your car is now fully prepared for the new season.
