Out with slush, in with flowers and birds and sweet spring air! It’s time to undo winter’s damage. Now that spring has officially arrived, let’s get your car ready for the new season. Best of all, it won’t cost you much! You can do it yourself, or take it to a car care center for fluids, a tire rotation, and an oil change. Here are 5 ways to springtime prep your ride!
1. Wash the Underbody – Nobody likes to deal with corrosion and rust. It may be worth a few extra bucks for an undercarriage power wash or spray the car’s bottom with a hose.
2. Scrub Inside and Out – Give your car’s body a thorough scrub then a wax to get rid of salt and sand that may damage the paint. Have you noticed a build-up of salt on your car’s interior carpet? Salt can break down fabrics and cause rips when shoes rub against it. A steam cleaner will work wonders on hard-to-clean salt stains.
3. Check Tire Pressure – It’s a good idea to follow your car’s regular maintenance schedule. You may be past due for a wheel alignment or tire rotation. Be sure to test your tire pressure too since change in temperatures can cause tire pressure to fluctuate.
4. Replace Wiper Blades – Here come April showers. If your wipers are leaving streaks on your windshield, squeaking, or worse, swap them out for a brand new pair!
5. Top-off Fluids – While you should monitor your fluids at every season, winter weather can deplete some fluids fast, especially windshield wiper fluid. It’s recommended to change your oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid every 5,000 miles or so. You can also reference your owner’s manual to see your specific car needs.
