In April, as winter comes to an end, it is time to get your vehicle ready for spring driving and summer road trips. Since April is designated National Car Care Month, it is especially important to make sure your tires, brakes and windshield wipers are ready for the rain, and take care of any issues that may have occurred or been ignored during winter.

There are a number of things you can do to make your reentry into Springtime better for your vehicle. The first is a good old fashioned oil change. This should be done more frequently than just every April. How often you need to change your oil really depends on your driving habits. Old recommendations had oil changes every 3,000 miles, but engines today have been developed to go longer without the oil change. If you only do mild driving in a modern vehicle, which consists of open roads, no traffic, steady speeds, and minimal braking, you can go longer between oil changes. Oil needs to be changed more often if you deal with stop and go traffic, cold temperatures, a lot of idling, dusty road conditions, and a lot of short trips. 

You’ll also want to maintain your vehicle’s cooling system. The cooling system is not just your radiator and coolant levels. It is also the fan, thermostat and water pump. Regular maintenance of your coolant system is important for your engine to run properly as the coolant is what draws the heat off the engine and aids in preventing your car from overheating along with all of the other components. You will need to have the system flushed and replace the coolant at specific intervals. For routine maintenance check the coolant levels to ensure they are full.

Finally, the battery terminal should be cleaned. The battery is a key component, and more often than not, people don’t give their battery terminals any kind of thought until something goes wrong. Your battery terminals are what allow your battery to power your car’s electrical components. If they become worn out or corroded it can cause problems with the way your car runs. Rolf’s Import Auto Service can easily clean these out for you.

Make vehicle maintenance a priority this spring to protect yourself and prolong the life of your vehicle! Summer fun awaits, and the best way to enjoy it is in the driver’s seat.