Spring Clean Your Car

Spring cleaning is often talked about in terms of houses with Hinching and Kondo-ing being big news – but what about your car? What should you be doing to ensure it’s ready for everything you’re going to put it through this year?
Everyday use can all take a toll on your vehicle and impact on its ability to perform. So what season specific things can you do to ensure your car is ready and prepped for spring and summer?

Check Your Brakes

It goes without saying that brakes should be checked regularly, but if you’re planning an Easter break away with the family, a summer trip or even a festival then it makes sense to have them checked in advance. Heavy loads for bit trips can affect your brakes so now seems an ideal time to have them checked out.
If you have a “spongey” feeling from the brakes this can be be indicative of a lack of fluid in the system, requiring the system to be topped up.

Cooling System

One of the biggest challenges for cars in the heat can be overheating – something you absolutely want to avoid if you are caught in a tailback or on the motorway! You need to make sure that your cooling system is topped up with the correct amount of coolant and water.

Oil

Some older cars might benefit from an oil change in the summer as this can help balance internal engine wear and offer better protection of your engine. Newer cars should be fine to run on the same kind of oil all year round, but it’s worth checking out anyway!

Air Filters

Dirty air filters can cause engine problems – large amounts of pollen in the air can add to this, clogging up your ventilation systems not to mention making any passengers with hay fever utterly miserable! Air filters are a small but very effective measure, when coupled with changing the cabin filter, this stops the internal air from becoming stuffy.

Air Conditioning

You should use your air conditioning all year round, not just when it’s warm – consistent usage will stop the system clogging stopping it from operating at its maximum output when you need it most on that sweltering day stuck in traffic.

Wiper Blades

Winter and summer blades have different challenges so it makes sense that your car could benefit from different blades for the summer months. In winter the blades help move the ice, frost and slush that can accumulate on the rear and front windscreens. These are usually flexible at lower temperatures, but can be too bendy when the temperatures rise over the hotter months. They can also cause streaks on your windows in the spring so it might be worth considering replacement.

Summer Tyres

Winter tyres often grab the headlines but summer can be every bit as hard on your tyres. Heat and sunlight can break down the rubber over time and whilst you can get away with the easy benefits of all season tyres, these can be a compromise and may not save as much money as two sets of tyres designed for each season specifically.

And Finally…

We recommend that you have both a winter and summer car check to prepare your car – we offer free car checks to help identify any potential areas of risk. Making sure that you have maintained the car regularly will extend the life of the car and make sure it runs for many years to come!