There are plenty of chores to be done at the start of another spring. You may be raking winter debris off your lawn or making sure your gutters are still clear. However, most people neglect to prepare their car for spring.
Tasks like replacing studded snow tyres with summer tyres are obvious, but there is plenty of other work needed to keep your car running at its best.
Schedule an oil change before the weather starts getting very warm, especially if you don't use synthetic oils. If you check your car's manual, you'll find it likely calls for different grades of oil based on the temperature. Colder temperatures usually require an oil with a different viscosity. Many people neglect oil changes in winter because the cold weather makes it more of a hassle; fresh oil will help to clean out any impurities that have accumulated in the engine.
Check your tyre pressure. Official reports show that tyre pressure can change by as much as 1 PSI per 10 degrees ambient temperature change. This means if the outdoor temperature goes from near zero in January to the 70's by late spring, your tyre pressure can increase by 7 PSI. This leads to overinflated tyres, which may cause other problems such as reduced tyre life and poor wet weather traction. On the other hand, you may find that too much air has leaked out of the tyres over the winter, so you'll need to inflate them. You can find the proper tyre pressure on the inside of the driver's side door or in your car's manual.
Once the snow disappears, give your car a good wash. Road salt can greatly increase corrosion, so be sure to wash the underside of your car and the wheel wells where salt can accumulate. If you don't have the time to give it a proper washing, a quick spray-down with the hose will remove the worst of the salt until you can give it a thorough washing later. The winter elements likely removed last autumn's wax job, so be sure to apply a new coat to help protect your car as well.
Don't neglect cleaning the inside of your car. The same sand and salt on the outside of your car likely got carried to the inside of your vehicle on your boots. Salt in particular may clump to your interior carpeting as it dries. Vacuum out the car well and use a stiff brush to break salt clumps out of the carpet.
Check all of your cars fluids to be sure they weren't neglected over the winter. Now is a good time to begin replacing your windshield washer fluid with summer fluids. Although it will freeze if there's a late spring snap, summer washer fluid is better for removing bug guts than the winter fluid. Some brands offer dual summer/winter fluid that's good for all seasons. Don't worry about using up all of your winter windshield fluid first, as winter and summer fluids can safely be mixed together.
Lastly, don't forget to take all of the winter items out of your trunk. You'll no longer need bags of sand for extra weight or snow shovels. In fact, this extra weight can actually hurt your gas mileage. It will also leave your more room for packing for your summer vacation. Don't forget to make sure your air conditioning still works well in advance of those hot summer months when you'll want it most.
Preparing your car for spring is very similar to 'winterising', but in reverse. Although summer is gentler on your vehicle than winter, you'll see improved gas mileage and a much longer lasting engine if your properly de-winterize your car. It's also a great time to clean out your car so that it's at its best in preparation for a summer at the beach.
