Winter Is Finally On Its Way Out: How To Prepare Your Car For Spring

6 April 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Share

Winter might be trying to hang on a little longer, but the harsh weather won't last forever. The warm weather will be arriving before you know it. Once the temperatures get a bit more pleasant, you'll be wanting to do some traveling in your car. Before you head out on your springtime adventures, make sure your car is up to the task. After all, it's taken quite a beating this winter, especially if you live in an area that's received a lot of snow and ice this year. Here are four maintenance tasks you should tackle before you head out-of-town in your car this spring.

Change the Oil

If you live in an area that endured extreme winter weather this year, you might have changed your oil to winter-grade. The thinner viscosity oil that is used for winter driving, won't provide your car with the protection it needs during the warmer temperatures. Before you take off on long drives this spring, make sure you have your oil changed to a thicker, summer blend oil.

Ditch the Snow Tires

When it comes to driving in snow and ice, you have two choices for road safety – snow chains or snow tires. While many people opt for the as-needed nature of snow chains, quite a few people switch to snow tires once winter arrives. The thicker, snow-gripping tread of snow tires ensures much-needed traction when driving in snow and ice. However, they're not recommended for year-round driving conditions. If you had snow tires installed on your car for the winter, be sure to have them replaced with warm weather tires not that winter is finally taking its final bow.

Have Your Brakes Inspected

If you've spent the winter driving in snow and ice, your car has probably been exposed to quite a bit of road salt and other de-icing agents. If that's the case, the brakes on your car may need some tender-loving-care. You might not realize this, but the substances used to de-ice the roads during the winter can cause significant damage to your brakes, especially if you haven't been rinsing your car off once a week – which most people don't do during the winter. Before you do any long-distance driving this spring, have your brakes inspected for winter damage.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers

When it comes to preparing your car for spring, you might not give much thought to your windshield wipers, but you should. Freezing temperatures can cause your windshield wipers to become brittle. When that happens, your wipers could crack and break during spring usage. To make sure you have the visibility you need during spring rainstorms, be sure to replace your windshield wipers. 

For more information, contact your local auto repair services.