It’s April. Which means that among other spring-related themes, it’s National Car Care Month. A time to celebrate the automobile and focus on the importance of proper maintenance. If you haven’t done it yet, now is the perfect time to take care of the vehicle that takes such good care of you.
Here are a few ideas for getting your car ready for the spring and summer months.
If it’s been too long since you (or one of your family members you talked into) hand washed your vehicle, spring is an ideal opportunity to do it. You don’t have to spend tons of money … or all day. Just begin in the morning, get some buckets full of soapy water and give your ride the scrubbing it deserves. Especially the tires. And don’t even think about calling your car “clean” until you’ve addressed the interior. Again, it doesn’t take all day to get the inside looking as nice as the outside. A quick vacuum sweep and wet paper towel over the dash works wonders.
Under the hood, make sure all the fluids are full. Liquids like windshield wiper fluid get frequent use during the winter (and March!) to keep visibility at 100%. It’s not hard to pop the car hood and peek at the wiper fluid to make sure you are ready for the next few months and any rain that may fall. (Hopefully not on the same day you have chosen to hand wash the car.)
Speaking of fluids, if you haven’t changed the oil in awhile, get a qualified mechanic to do it as soon as possible. Your car’s engine will thank you. While you’re at the service station, go ahead and have them check out the air conditioner. The summer will be here before you know it and you’re going to want that AC to properly cool you down when the hot weather hits.
Check the car tires. In the winter months, air in the tires can contract, so be sure and fill them up to the recommended pressure. Under-inflated tires can impact fuel economy and cause tires to prematurely wear out.
Whether on your daily commute or just an errand to the grocery store, you might be surprised how much a good interior and exterior cleaning and some maintenance can increase the enjoyment of driving your vehicle. See Importance of maintaining your vehicle for a detailed chart of when to have certain services performed.
Check out this list for more car maintenance tips that can keep your car running smoothly during National Car Care Month and the miles to come.
