Vehicle Maintenance Checklist For The Spring

After a season of cold temperatures, harsh winds and moist air, a little need to take a closer look into your car maintenance may arise. You may not realise it, but cold weather and dropping temperatures may not be that kind to your vehicles; the cold weather causes slight wear and tear that exacerbates minor problems.

Do not hold back when it’s time to perform some much-needed vehicle maintenance after your vehicle has gone through rough weather.

Here’s what you must do to keep up with your vehicle’s performance and keep those wheels turning smoothly.

Change your oil and oil filter.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, the lifeblood of an engine, oil, has to be at the top of the list. Regularly check the oil level in your car and keep changing it and the oil filter from time to time, specifically at a vehicle manufacturer’s recommended intervals.

Motor oil lubricates and cools the engine, which naturally picks up impurities. However, the problem is that oil becomes less effective as it ages, which is why regular oil and filter changes become integral to car maintenance. The experts of the automotive industry in Australia even lay out the benefits of using full synthetic or full synthetic high mileage oil in your vehicles. The fully synthetic oil lasts longer since it doesn’t break down that easily compared to conventional oil. That also helps the vehicle gear upright in the cold weather since it contains special additives to help recondition hardened gaskets and seals, preventing or stopping oil leaks.

Inspect the battery

Cold weathers are harsh on the car batteries, and after winters, the batteries might just be on the verge of dying. The lowered temperature around the city will force your batteries to work harder by slowing down their chemical reactions. The battery fluids are almost ready to speed up corrosion with high temperatures just around the corner. This may lead to reaching a point on one hot day that could leave your battery DOA. Have your car battery tested and prepare it for warmer weather before you bump into the inconvenience of having a car that won’t start.

Check the pressure of the tire and tread

In the mornings, before you hit the road, it is imperative to check the pressure of your car’s tire and adjust tires based on that reading. The tire’s pressure should match the recommended tire pressure in your vehicle manual; unless it does, ensure you avoid driving it immediately.

You must check the tire pressure after winter and when spring is about to arrive because fluctuations in temperature can cause tire pressure to fluctuate as well. Actually, the tire loses or gains about one pound per square inch for every 10-degree F change in temperature. And problems on the road can arise due to both over-inflated and under-inflated tires.

And now is also the best time to check the tire tread depth. Some sufficient tread is required for your tires to keep up with the grip on the roads as they were designed to do. Not having that can compromise your car’s handling in wet weather and its ability to come to a quick stop. So get the tread depth check as well before hitting the road.

Deep clean the lights and replace the bulbs if required

If you find yourself squinting while driving in the dark, you might need new glasses for your vehicle, or it could just be your lights that need a little scrubbing. Even the headlights and tail lights get dirty; you need to keep polishing them from time to time with a soft toothbrush, baking soda and water to keep them squeaky clean and shining bright. If that is not enough, you know what to do next; reach out to the experts of the automotive industry in Australia for the bulb replacement and drive freely across the country this spring.

Replace the spark plugs

Different people hold different opinions about how often spark plugs should be changed; however, the general rule of thumb is to get it replaced every 30,000-mile interval. The range will depend on the type of plug the manufacturer has chosen to place; it could be copper, single and double platinum or iridium. However, what’s more important is that you stick with the same plug that your car’s manufacturer recommends. Do not forget that even spark plugs require maintenance, and noticing a lack of power, rough idling, and trouble starting the engine are all signs that one or more spark plugs in your vehicle could be damaged and require attention.

Check the belts and hoses

Like the wiper blades, even the belts and hoses beneath your hood can become stiff and brittle in the cold weather. The stiff automotive parts are prone to get damaged with time; ensure to keep a check on them for hardening, cracking, softening, leaking or blistering. For the belts, you must look for looseness, frays, cracks or glazing.

Restore the wiper blades and refill the wiper fluid

The car wipers can probably look worse for wear, especially when they have spent months clearing away ice and snow from the glass. They could be smearing water across your car’s windshield, chattering, or just being unable to do its job correctly. When some simple wiper cleaning is not enough, then you can tell that it’s time to replace those wiper blades, and that is when you reach out to your most trusted expert near you, Robin Baldwin West Gosford Mechanic.

The most renowned and affordable mechanical workshop on the Central Coast, Robin Baldwin Automotive, takes care of all your advanced servicing needs. Call today to make an appointment or visit our workshop located in the heart of West Gosford. Our friendly staff will help you with all your servicing needs.