This is the traditional time for some “Spring Cleaning”. As the weather begins to warm up, we feel the warmth of the sun and smell the fresh air, it’s a great time to prepare for outdoor activities. Your car needs some of that love too. That’s right! Your car too!
Most of us, understandably, tend to do the bare minimum of vehicle care and maintenance through the winter months. After all, who wants to be out in the cold washing the car in the cold? Especially when it’s just going to get dirty again in a few minutes of driving in the rain. But there is more than just washing of course. During the cold months tire pressure fluctuates a great deal. Dirt and road debris litter the under-carriage. Wiper blades and light bulbs see a lot of operating hours. And believe it or not, your engine bay can even turn into a nice place for rodents to take up residence.
We recommend taking a little time to do some quick checks to make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape to get you here and there for all of your spring and summer activities. Check the operation of all of the exterior lighting. High and low beams, turn signals, brake and tail lamps. And don’t forget the license plate lights. Make sure the engine coolant level is between the minimum and maximum range marks on the reservoir. Engine oil should be at the full mark on the dipstick and not excessively dark in color. Refer to your owners manual for proper transmission fluid check procedures. Make sure the air filter is clean and free of debris. And while your looking under the hood, check for signs of rodent nesting (foot prints, harsh odor, visible nests). You might want to top off your washer fluid as well.
Checking the tire air pressure and tread wear is very important. Your tires are what keep you safely on the road after all. The proper tire pressure for your vehicle should be listed on a placard on the driver door jam. The tread on your tire should be about the same on all of the tires. The wear should be even across the tire from inside to outside. And no less than 5/32 of an inch deep. You can check the tread depth with a penny. Place the penny upside down in the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head above the tire treads, its time for new tires.
After you’ve checked all of the basic safety items, you can move on to a good thorough cleaning. An exterior wash is important of course, but it’s also a good idea to make sure the under-carriage gets some well deserved attention too. Taking the car through a tough free car wash is a great way to get excess debris rinsed from all of those hard to reach components. But if cleaning the car just isn’t your thing, the Rogue Valley offers a number of mobile detail services.
We know some of these things don’t sound fun at all. But neither does being stuck on the side of the road. We all like to be active. Especially when the weather is nice, and the lake is calling our name. From all of us at American Wrencher Garage LLC., we wish you a safe and happy summer! And remember, we are always here to help. We are…United Through Service.
