Believe it or not, warmer weather is on the way, and you, and your wallet will benefit from taking a few simple steps to prepare for the spring and summer driving season. None of these vehicle maintenance recommendations are expensive, and you can perform many of them yourself, so let's get started:
In Denver, Replace Your Snow Tires.
Replace your winter tires with summer tires, and inspect both sets before you switch them.
If the winter tires are worn or damaged, you may be able to get a great price on replacement tires, as it's Springtime, and tire dealers are looking to off load their inventory.
Take Care of Your Summer Tires.
Check your tire pressure often. Tire pressure changes about 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, so it's important to check tire pressure after weather changes. Check your owner's manual for the recommended pressure for your tire, and never exceed that. Always check pressure when the tires are cold, since driving even a couple of miles to the gas station can provide a false reading. Higher pressure generally results in improved steering response and fuel economy, but a stiffer ride, and it wears out the tread in the center. Under inflation generally provides a smoother ride, but it is not safe, and causes tires to wear out at the sides. It also wastes gas because tires need more power to push the vehicle.
Wash your car, or take it to a car wash. Deicers, road grime and debris that are prevalent in the winter months take a toll on suspension and steering parts. Either pay for the undercarriage wash at your local car wash, or use a garden hose with as much water pressure as your system can muster to loosen winter grime and salt. Or, if you have a movable lawn sprinkler that's low enough, set that under the vehicle to wash away what you can't reach.
Clean the Passenger Compartment and Trunk.
Discard the candy wrappers, water bottles, coffee cups, and other debris that's been hibernating under the seats all winter, then attack the cabin with the most powerful vacuum cleaner you can find. Remove the floor mats to vacuum or wash outside the car. Open the trunk, remove the spare tire and jack and vacuum here, too. Road dust, coffee stains and fingerprints have no appeal any time of the year, so after vacuuming, use a spray vinyl cleaner and a soft cloth on the dashboard, steering wheel, door panels and seats. That also helps protect against cracking, sun damage and fading. A good household upholstery cleaner is fine for fabric seats; for leather seats, follow manufacturer's recommendations. Next is an aerosol silicone spray to treat the weather stripping around the outside of doors, windows and the trunk. Be sure to wipe away the excess.
While you are cleaning the trunk, check the tire pressure of the spare tire, if it is a spare that is refillable. Most likely it will need air, so remember to check the spare every you time you change the oil.
Replace Your Wiper Blades.
In Denver, our level of sunshine ruins wiper blades faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Your wipers work hard all winter removing dirt and debris, including salt spray. Since the life expectancy of a wiper blade is three to six months, check that the blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out. Don't wait for a heavy spring or summer rainstorm to discover your blades aren't performing properly. Also, refill the wiper fluid reservoir, and check for leaks. Contact us for Wipe Blade Replacement and Denver Maintenance Service.
One of the best things you can do for your car is to get your oil changed at recommended intervals. For vehicles that use non-synthetic oil, that interval, is typically 3,000-3,5000 miles. Change the oil filter each time you change the oil, since it's obvious that a dirty filter won't keep the new oil clean. You can change the oil yourself, but make sure that you dispose of the used oil correctly. (we accept used oil for disposal.)
Get a Coolant Flush.
We recommend flushing your cooling system every two years, or 24,000 miles for most vehicles. Simply draining your radiator is not enough; you need to flush the system with a radiator flush product, not just plain water, to remove corrosive compounds, stubborn rust, grease and sediment. Then, refill your system with the proper mixture of coolant and water. There are several types of coolants, and they are "vehicle specific". Be absolutely sure to use the proper type of coolant for your vehicle. If you use the wrong coolant, you run the risk of damaging seals and other parts in your engine. While you are at it, have your radiator cap checked. A snug radiator cap helps raise the cooling system pressure, giving added protection against boil-overs. Radiator caps don't last forever, so replace yours whenever you flush the cooling system. Pressure recommendations vary, so get the right cap for your vehicle model.
Denver Cooling System Repair and Service
Check to See if Your Car Needs a Tune-Up.
Have your car evaluated for a tune-up. A poorly tuned engine can reduce fuel efficiency. . Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles. That's a lot of heat and wear and tear in the form of electrical and chemical erosion. Dirty spark plugs cause misfiring, which wastes fuel. A basic tune-up can involve the replacement of spark plugs, inspection of spark plug wires, distributor cap, distributor rotor (if you do not have electronic ignition) and air filter as well as inspection of the distributor's dwell and timing.
Replace Your Air Filter and Check for Leaks.
You can change your air filter yourself. While you are under the hood, check for evidence of oil leaks, power steering leaks, or coolant leaks. Better yet, take the car in and have an expert look for those leaks. Fixing leaks is generally much cheaper than fixing the problems created by ignoring them.
Make sure battery posts and connections are secure and free of corrosion. If the clamps need to be replaced, do it. Clean the corrosion with a blend of baking soda and water, or a commercial product designed for that.
Check Your Gas Cap.
With gas at record prices, be sure there's a tight seal on the gas cap, too, to prevent that high-priced octane from vaporizing. Nearly 20 percent of vehicles have gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing altogether, wasting some 147 million gallons of gas every year. Often, a damaged cap will cause your "check engine" light to come on. Caps are generally very inexpensive.
One of the best things you can do for your car is to get your oil changed at recommended intervals.-
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