Spring Car Maintenance Checklist
Springtime is the season of fresh starts. Most of us “spring clean” our houses every year, but what about our vehicles? Even in Arizona where winters aren’t as harsh as other areas of the country, the chilly period can still be rough on your car. With summer right around the corner and road trips in the works, it is important to take care of routine upkeep as well as any auto body repairs that you’ve been putting off. This spring car maintenance checklist can serve as a guide for what to fix before June ends.
Get Your Oil Changed
April is “National Car Care Month” and if regular oil changes are a vital part of your spring car maintenance checklist. Not changing your car’s oil can cause damage to the engine that is far more costly than the few hundred dollars a year it costs to get it serviced. According to statistics from NBCNews, only 26% of people know how to change their oil themselves. This means that most of us rely on oil-changing services to keep up with engine maintenance. That’s okay, just make sure you make an appointment to have your oil changed every three months or every 3,000 miles.
Schedule a Detailing.
The outside of your car might not seem as important as the inside of your engine, but cleaning your car’s exterior regularly can stop paint from chipping. A good cleaning can also stop salt and other contaminants from the road from damaging your ride. You can wash your vehicle yourself or better yet, allow auto detailing experts to do the job for you. The cost of having your car detailed once or twice a year may be an unwanted expense, but it’s far cheaper than repairing damage caused by pollutant damage.
Replace Blades and Refill Fluids
This is a simple but essential part of any spring car maintenance checklist. You’ve already taken care of your oil, but make sure you check these as well:
- Windshield washer fluid
- Transmission fluid
- Coolant (radiator fluid)
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
This is also a good time to replace your windshield wiper blades. Recommended replacement time is every six months to a year.
Check Your Tire Tread
Another critical part of the checklist is inspecting your tires for wear and tear. One way to see if your tires need to be replaced is by placing a penny ‘head first’ into grooves across the tire’s surface. Place the penny so that Lincoln is upside down but facing you. If you can see the top of President Lincoln’s head, you may need to replace your wheels.
Change your air filter.
Every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, your engine’s air filter should be replaced. This is one of the most forgotten parts of the spring car maintenance checklist. It’s super important though because the screen is responsible for clearing your vehicle’s engine of dirt and other debris. Failing to replace the filter can cause restricted air flow to the motor and cause it to use more oil. Thankfully, this isn’t an expensive fix. Changing your air filter usually costs less than 100 dollars in parts and labor.
Fix any dents or paint damage.
This last point on the maintenance checklist isn’t part of regular upkeep, but it is an especially necessary part of car care. Many people ignore small dings and chips, thinking that surface issues aren’t a big deal. However, chipped paint can lead to rust and other more severe problems that can affect the frame and more. Having dents pulled out, and professional paint repair is an investment that will not only make your car look better but also add to the future resale value of your vehicle.
If you’re concerned about your vehicle’s paint or other spring maintenance issues, let the auto body professionals at Orlando Auto Body take a look. We offer free estimates and guarantee top-notch service. Give us a call at 480-485-4653.
