Maintenance Tips for your Vehicle
Spring is here – officially, anyway. That means our days of driving through ice, snow, slush and salt are numbered. And the temperatures are going to start creeping high enough that many of us will dare to think about remaining outdoors long enough to do things that aren’t absolutely necessary, like shampooing our vehicles’ interiors. After all, we have a convenient excuse. It’s not that being out there one second longer than we had to be was painfully cold and made our muscles get so stiff they were useless. It’s not that the thought of getting anywhere close to water in such frigid conditions sent us penguin-marching toward our wood stoves just as fast as our frozen legs could manage. No, the reason we didn’t shampoo our vehicles all winter is because they would have needed to dry afterwards, and in freezing temperatures they wouldn’t have been able to do that. They would have just gone crispy. Yup, that sounds good. That must have been why. But now it’s spring, or going to be, anyway, one of these days. Our vehicles have carried us (literally) through months of winter road mess, and it’s about time they got some attention in return. And that means more than shampooing the carpets and upholstery. Here’s what the Canadian Automobile Association has to say on the subject (Spring Maintenance Tips, published May 7, 2014):
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) reminds Canadians of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance. Properly maintaining your car can save you thousands of dollars on repair bills and help prolong the life of your vehicle. “It’s important for drivers to take the proper steps to maintain their vehicle. It keeps drivers safe and helps prevent breakdowns,” says Jeff Walker, Vice President of Public Affairs, CAA National. To keep your vehicle running smoothly this spring, here are seven easy-to-remember spring car maintenance and care tips:
- Change your oil according to the owner’s manual recommendations, and keep brake, coolant and windshield washer fluids topped up.
- Wash away the signs of winter. Give your vehicle a thorough cleaning to remove any salt and sand that has accumulated. Clean under the hood and wheel wells.
- If you have winter tires installed on your vehicle, remove them when the temperatures hit seven degrees Celsius consistently.
- Rotate your tires to prevent uneven wear. Your front tires take the brunt of the work. Make sure your tire pressure is within specifications. The owner’s manual will have recommendations, and information can also be found on the driver’s door panel, fuel filler or glove box door.
- Check your wiper blades and replace them if they are worn or damaged.
- Fix any small scratches caused by road salt or rocks with touch-up paint.
- Consider rust proofing your vehicle.
Here in New Hampshire, the CAA’s most recommended rustproofing method is available from The Rust Stop Pro. It’s called RS3000, and it involves the application of an oil-based product that stops the growth of existing rust and forms a barrier to repel water and salt, without trapping them against the vehicle like the thicker coatings can.