4 tips for giving your car a spring tune-up
**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
If you’re a regular driver, the arrival of spring means one thing: time for a tune-up. Tuning up your vehicle is a great way to ensure that it stays in good condition through the summer months, and will also help you catch any potential damage that may have occurred over winter.
If you want to know what the key things to check are, here are four things all car owners should take care of during the sprint tune-up.
- Before You Do Anything Else, Clean It
If your car is dirty, it’s going to be hard to find out what condition it is really in, which is why the first thing you should do when the weather gets nice is give it a good scrub and a wax. Built-up salt and grit over the course of the winter has a serious corrosive effect, and cleaning both the main shell of the car and the underside will not only reduce the risks of rust, it will also help you catch potential problems.
- Change the Oil
Many drivers in Canada and the Northern United States will switch to thinner viscosity oil in the fall because it offers better performance in cold winter weather. But when summer comes around, this oil often cannot guarantee premium performance, which is why it’s a good idea to switch back to the factory recommended oil as soon as it gets warm.
- Check the Brakes
Every time you put your foot on the brake, your brake pads connect with the rotor, the pad wears down just a little bit. Because of inclement weather, brakes tend to be used more frequently in the winter, which is why you should always make a point of checking your pads come spring to get a sense for how much life they have left in them. And while you’re down there, it isn’t a bad idea to make sure your suspension and alignment haven’t suffered any damage due to potholes.
If you find that there has been damage, it’s a good idea to replace anything worn down and broken as quickly as possible. Generally, it is a good practice to pick OEM parts, so if you drive a Ford, get reliable genuine Ford parts when making repairs. This will guarantee that your vehicle continues to perform as it was designed to.
- Check Your Battery
Most car owners know to check their breaks and suspension, but it is surprising how few people understand how important it is to keep regular tabs on the state of the battery. Automotive batteries typically have a life of three to five years, but if you live in a colder region, that could be lower, given the addition strain that cold weather places on your batter when you start your car.
As most drivers know, preventive care is essential for prolonging the life of your vehicle, and preventive care starts with regular tune-ups to catch potential problems before they get out of control. This spring, make sure you check your car thoroughly for problems before you go on any long trips. Not only will this make your car last for longer, it will also spare you from unfortunate breakdowns and accidents!