As spring begins, you'll want to perform certain maintenance tasks to get your car ready for the season. Performing the right tasks can make driving easier and may even help certain interior and exterior parts of your vehicle last longer. By following this simple checklist, you'll get your vehicle ready for spring the right way.
1. Check Fluid Levels
Certain fluids that help your vehicle run may need to be topped off at the beginning of spring so that your vehicle can perform its best. It's best to check your engine coolant levels as well as your oil and transmission fluid levels. You'll definitely want to check your brake fluid levels if your brakes endured a lot of strain while you drove in challenging winter conditions.
2. Remove Winter Tires
Winter tires will do little good for your vehicle in the warmer months. You'll wear out your winter tires faster and run a greater risk of experiencing tire blowouts if you continue to drive on them past the winter season. It's advisable to replace your winter tires with all-weather tires by April 30 at the latest. Studded winter tires need to be removed by April 1st.
3. Check the Battery
Harsh winter conditions can sometimes drain vehicle batteries faster. By checking your vehicle's battery at the beginning of spring, you'll know if it has enough power and whether or not it should be replaced.
4. Clean Your Vehicle
Mud, dirt and road salt may have accumulated on portions of your vehicle while you drove throughout the winter, and washing the dirtiness away can help preserve the exterior paint and prevent rust formation. Your vehicle's air filter may also need to be cleaned or changed if it picked up a lot of dirt and dust over the winter.
5. Consider Replacing the Windshield Wiper Blades
Using your windshield wipers on a windshield that has ice, snow or slush on it can diminish the lifespans of the wiper blades. If your wipers leave any streaks or film on your windshield or are making loud scrapping or chattering sounds while you're using them, the blades should be replaced as soon as possible. It's also important to check if the blades or wiper frames are bent out of shape.
Completing your spring car maintenance checklist will allow you to enjoy better driving conditions throughout the season. Kelowna Transmission & Auto Repair is equipped to handle many of your vehicle maintenance tasks, and you can learn more about the specific services that are available in Kelowna by visiting www.kelownatransmission.com.