After the winter season, lots of us tend to start spring cleaning, sorting items at home or in the garden. Not everyone is aware, though, that spring is the best season to check the condition of your car after winter, which is quite challenging for vehicles. The basic maintenance tasks include checking and replacing the air filter, clearing out debris, or even replacing the wiper blades. Check out this essential spring car maintenance checklist to take care of your vehicle.
Look inside the car
When you look at your car after winter, you can see if there is any damage to the paint, wheels, or windscreen. It is more difficult to see the possible damages inside the car; that’s why you should check the fluids, plugs, batteries, or any drains.
According to carcareclinicjetlube.com about Spring Car Maintenance, it is crucial to check coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering fluid levels. You don’t have to replace the liquids yourself if you don’t feel confident enough, but it may be a better idea to book a visit for a car inspection at your car mechanic. However, seeing the low level of liquid can give you a chance of a fast reaction to a leak, and too low a level can lead to damage to important car parts.
Nobody has to persuade drivers that changing the oil when the season ends can help the engine work better and protect it, especially in the case of older cars. Oil influences the work of the engine and ensures smooth operation, as well as removing contaminants from the engine or protecting the combustion chamber from overheating. Spring is a great time to arrange a change of oil at your car service.
Don’t forget about plugs and batteries, which don’t like low temperatures and gradually lose their charge. After winter, it is advisable to ask the car specialists to check their lifespan for safe driving.
Remove dirt from under the hood and filters
Driving a car can be harmful to your health if you do not take care of the frequent and regular replacement of filters. Old, dusty cabin filters can be a great danger for those who are allergic or suffer from asthma, as they do not stop allergens from going into the car. Spring is the season when we start using air conditioning. Make sure to replace the air filters and test if the AC is working properly before temperatures grow significantly.
There is a list of symptoms to assess the state of the air filter, and if you notice them it is necessary to visit your mechanic to replace them. What should worry you are the noise and abnormal sounds during driving, noticeable loss of engine power, or black or bluish color of exhaust gases, explains buycarparts.co.uk about symptoms of the air filter failure. The replacement will take not more than 10 minutes and it can reduce fuel consumption or save the engine from possible damage.
Assess the state of the paint
Winter is the season when our cars look constantly dirty, with dirt, salt, and mud staying on the paint. Washing the car in cold weather is not recommended, which means waiting till spring to go to the car wash.
Don’t limit the cleaning to the visible part, but clean the car underneath to remove the salt and dirt that accumulated after winter. Good waxing of the paint after winter is crucial to keeping the rust away. Thorough car cleaning may reveal paint damage after winter; if you see any serious dings or chips, it is better to react fast.
Remember about replacing the windshield wiper blades, which may be worn out after being used on icy windshields, it is best to replace them twice a year – in spring, and in autumn. Spring is often rainy, so don’t forget to refill the washer fluid to avoid the situation of driving with a dirty windshield.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
