Spring Car Maintenance: A Checklist
Spring is a season of fresh beginnings and for most, a thorough Spring cleaning.
Just a reminder: your car needs as much maintenance and deep cleaning as your home. After all, it’s also an important part of your daily routine and will probably take you on your next adventure.
To help you give your car the attention it deserves, we’ll discuss Spring car maintenance and provide you with a comprehensive checklist to make sure your vehicle is ready for the warmer months ahead.
What is Spring car maintenance?
It’s exactly what it sounds like.
Spring car maintenance refers to the set of essential maintenance tasks that you need to perform on your vehicle as the weather transitions to a warmer one. Spring car care and maintenance is a proactive approach to address the issues that may have occurred before the warmer seasons.
It’s also a way of preparing your car, especially if you’re planning a fun road trip soon!
Why is maintaining your car in Spring important?
Maintaining your car is always important. But even more so in Spring, for the following reasons:
First and foremost: safety.
Roads tend to be extra challenging during the storms leading up to the warmer seasons. So, when Spring comes, it’s important to check your vehicle for issues that compromise your vehicle’s safety, such as worn brakes, damaged tyres or faulty lights.
Maintain your car for efficiency and longevity.
A well-maintained car operates more efficiently and has an extended lifespan. When you address small issues in Spring, you can prevent major problems down the road and improve fuel economy that then helps you save money on petrol.
A well-maintained car is a comfortable car.
Spring maintenance includes checking your vehicle’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Ensuring your air conditioning is working correctly will definitely help you keep cool during those warmer Australian days.
Checklist: How to care for and maintain your vehicle in Spring
Now, let’s go through the important steps in your Spring car maintenance routine:
☐ Examine all of your tyres.
Since harsh weather conditions can be hard on tyres, this is the best time to inspect them for tread depth and uneven wear patterns. Check the tyre pressure and switch back to all-season tyres (if you used winter tyres during the colder months).
☐ Replace your windshield wiper blades.
Ideally, wiper blades need to be replaced every six months. So, if you’ve had your wiper blades for over six months or you’ve noticed signs of damage, it may be time to replace them.
☐ Check all the lights.
Check that all lights, including headlights, taillights, brake lights and indicators are working correctly and replace any burnt-out bulbs.
☐ Conduct a brake inspection.
Inspect your brakes for signs of wear and tear. Pay especially close attention to squeaking and grinding noises as these are signs that your brakes may need replacement.
☐ Change and replenish automotive fluids.
Check all car fluid levels: engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. Also, ensure they are at the right levels. An oil change is also an important part of a Spring car maintenance routine.
☐ Do a battery check.
Cold weather can be tough on vehicle batteries. So, check for corrosion and ensure the connections are secure. Tip: if your battery is more than 3 years old, you might want to consider replacing it.
☐ Once everything is settled, refresh and clean the car.
Start from the outside: look for rust or any other external damage. Wash your car and apply a protective wax coating to shield it from the elements. Then, go through all of the interiors. Wash your floor mats and liners and clean all surfaces with car-safe cleaning products.
With a comprehensive Spring car maintenance routine, you can ensure your car is ready to take you efficiently, safely and comfortably on any springtime adventures you have planned (or not planned!).
Just don’t forget the Spring car maintenance routine
Remember: doing regular maintenance and following these steps on the Spring car checklist will not only save you money in the long run, but it will also ensure that you have a safer driving experience at any time of the year.
So, as everyone gets into the refreshing spirit of Spring cleaning, don’t forget to have a look at your car too.
Find the right vehicle for you with Private Fleet this Spring.
Private Fleet empowers you to gain all the benefits of a fleet purchase but as a private buyer.
Backed by decades of vehicle industry experience, fleet buying power and a network of car dealers across Australia, we’re here to ensure that buying your next vehicle will be as straightforward as possible for you, no matter the season or time.
Shopping for a car is an enjoyable process – let us make it hassle-free, too.
Reach out to us today for a seamless and simple car-buying experience.