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As the long New England Winter comes to an end, we have a must-do list of car care tasks to extend the longevity of our vehicles. Spring is the right time to give your car a little extra attention – the warmer weather makes it much more enjoyable to be outside inspecting your vehicle, and it’s refreshing to kick off the windows-down season with a nice, clean space. Following months of snow and ice – and subsequently salt and sand – the chances are pretty good that at least one of these tasks will need to be completed.
Check Your Engine Compartment
An inspection of all things mechanical on your car will help you identify places where time, wear, water, dirt, and other road debris have damaged different parts of your vehicle. Often, all that is needed is a quick wipe or spray with a lubricant to keep these items in good working order for the life of your vehicle.
Start with opening the hood and looking at the engine area. Remove any leaves, pine needles or acorns that may be clogging vents, drainage holes, or rubber gaskets.
Inspect hoses and belts for signs of wear. This may include any noticeable cracks or frayed material along the edge of the belts. As you are inspecting the engine compartment, also look for any signs of rust or corrosion on bolts, springs, and latches. This is a great time to spray a little lubricating oil on the hood latch and spring mechanism, too, to keep safe from that awful moment you need access to your engine and the hood won’t open.
If you are able, locate the engine air filter housing and remove the filter for inspection. A dirty filter should be replaced immediately as a clogged filter will reduce fuel efficiency. Planning to change the air filter each spring is a simple, easy-to-remember car care job that can keep your engine running smoothly all summer long.
Apart from the engine area, there are a few other important places to inspect on your vehicle.
Check Your Tires
If you switched to winter tires, be sure to switch back as soon as the threat of snow and ice is over. Winter tires are made of a special type of rubber compound that keeps them more pliable and “grippy” in cold weather. As a result, when temperatures are not cold, they tend to wear out much faster than an all-season tire. A timely switch will improve the life of the winter tire and give you better performance next season.
If you didn’t switch to winter tires, it’s important to know that temperature variations throughout the winter season can make tire pressure fluctuate. Inspect the pressure of all four tires and adjust as necessary. Check the tread on your tires and inspect each tire for signs of uneven wear along the inner, outer or middle of the tire. Uneven tire wear can be a sign of an improper alignment or suspension issue – a common theme after driving on pothole-riddled roadways.
If you are unsure of how to properly inspect your tires, we strongly suggest you schedule an appointment with your favorite mechanic to check your vehicle’s alignment.
Wash and Wax Your Car
No spring car care effort would be complete without including thorough washing and waxing of the exterior. If you’re going to tackle this yourself, make sure you invest in high-quality products – from soaps and wax to sponges and towels. Having the wrong products can lead to scratched paint on your vehicle.
Over the course of the winter, road sand and salt collect anywhere it finds a flat surface. To make matters worse, roads are often coated with a liquid binder that helps keep the salt and sand in place, improving its effectiveness on the road. Unfortunately for drivers, this means that some of the road salt will also stick to their vehicles. If it’s not washed off, it will begin to corrode whatever it has attached to. This is another reason why applying high-quality wax to the exterior of your vehicle is so important – it provides an extra layer of protection.
Because of this salty damage that occurs on your vehicle’s undercarriage throughout the winter, we recommend that you bring your vehicle to a trained professional for automotive detailing services. Not only will they take care of the outside of your vehicle, but they’ll also clean every nook and cranny on the inside of the vehicle too, where salt and sand have gathered all winter long. Your carpets, leathers, and even your cup holders, could more than likely include a deep cleansing. Now is the time to re-invest in your vehicle!
A carwash can be a less expensive option, but make sure you splurge and include an undercarriage spray wash in the service.
Not only will performing a little proactive auto maintenance this spring keep you safer, but it can also help you avoid having to fix a potentially larger, more costly problem down the road. Get rid of the salt from your vehicle, and start the outdoor season in style with a vehicle that shines in the sun!
