Spring Your Car into Shape with CarMax
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Spring may be just another season for us, but it is also a time where proper maintenance for your car takes a change. With a little love and tender care, your ride can be ready for spring in no time. CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, and its master technicians, offer advice on how to spruce up your car for spring during National Car Care month.
“Spring is one of the most critical times for vehicle maintenance,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Harsh winter conditions can adversely affect your car. Regular vehicle maintenance avoids unexpected costly repairs.”
To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, CarMax technicians suggest that drivers perform the following five tasks in the spring:
- Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter road treatments used to melt ice and snow.
- Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV rays.
- Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or at the manufacture’s recommendation and have the air filter and PCV valve checked and replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can cause the formation of harmful condensation and acids in the engine oil.
- Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional. If the engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise, preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and improve gas mileage.
- Have a qualified automotive technician check:
- The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling system a workout.
- All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in all weather conditions.
- The tires for any abnormalities (including the spare); the tire pressure should also be set at the level specified for your vehicle.
- All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly for damage due to corrosion since most states use salt, sand or other chemicals to melt snow and ice on the roads. During this process, it is also a good idea to have the tires rotated.
- Your vehicle’s steering and suspension for loose, worn or damaged components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
- The car battery, since it works much harder in the summer months and you’ll want to be prepared.
- The air conditioner, so you can avoid the wait if you need to have it repaired during the summer.
(Source) Press
Tags: automatic car wash, carmax, costly repairs, critical times, engine coolant, gas mileage, master technicians, national car care month, preventive measures, snow wash, vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, winter road, winter temperatures