After a winter that seemed to last 6 months, Spring is just about here. The calendar says we have “officially” arrived and the switch to Day Light Savings Time means that we have more hours of daylight when we return home.
Now might be the time to give your vehicle a little attention and avoid some problems down the road. Here are 10 tips to help your vehicle get ready for Spring:
1. Get an oil change. Changing the oil every 3000 miles will increase the life of your vehicle and it will perform better.
2. Check all your fluids. You might not have wanted to stand outside in the cold to do it, but now is the time.
3. Use a high quality gas treatment. It will clean injectors/carburetors, and keep your fuel system running the way it should. Better yet, have your technician perform a fuel injector power cleaning service.
4. Replace your gas filter. You will get better gas mileage, and the small cost of this item will more than offset its price with gas savings.
5. Check the belts. Replace them if they are cracked, frayed, worn or dry rotted.
6. Get you tires rotated and balanced. Make sure they are inflated to manufacture’s spec.
7. While your tires are off, have the technician inspect your brakes. This will only save you time and money if you catch normal brake wear early.
8. Check your wipers. With Spring comes rain. Wipers that are bad will limit your ability to see safely.
9. Do a thorough wash of your vehicle. If you use an automatic car wash, spend the extra buck and have them wash the under carriage too.
10. While you’re at it, do a Spring cleaning on the interior too. Clean the interior side of the windows and vacuum the carpet and upholstery.
Even if the weather is not fully co-operating yet, you’ll feel better knowing than when warm weather finally does arrive, you and your vehicle will be ready.
