Spring has sprung and your car needs some TLC!

Springtime in Tacoma is a beautiful time. We start feeling the temperatures rise and snowstorms start to fade away. We still have rain to worry about, but that’s a little different than all of the snow we receive in the winter. Our cars need to be prepared to navigate the different weather that comes with this season of growth. Here are a few things you can do to prepare your vehicle for spring.

Wash your car

Out of all the of the things that can damage your car during the winter months, you would never expect the salt that keeps the ice off the roads to be one of them. Salt and grime from the roads can cause damage to your paint job, your underbody and metal pieces under your car. Over time, the salt sits on the surface and begins to eat away, corroding and rusting your car.

Top off fluids and change your oil

Your car has worked extra hard through the winter months to keep itself going in the cold. This means it’s likely that it has used a lot of its fluids. Make sure to pay attention to your brake fluids, as chances are you have used your brakes more recently. You should also top off windshield wiper fluid, as wipers get used more in the winter to clean salt and other grime off windshields. Also relate, if you haven’t done so in a while, you definitely need to change your car’s oil. Oil keeps the inside of your engine lubricated so it works effectively and it cools it off when friction inside heats it up. Failure to replace your car’s oil will result in sludge build up and costly repairs. You might as well just go ahead and change it out as you’re doing your spring maintenance just in case.

Change your windshield wipers

Windshield wiper blades take quite the beating in winter, especially in areas like Tacoma that get snow and ice. Failure to replace them results in limited vision during the rainy parts of spring. You don’t want to be stuck with limited vision because then your safety is at risk. In general, wiper blades should be changed once or twice a year. Changing seasonally when you’re about to see a lot of rain is the best time because it will keep you safe.

Rotate and align your wheels

Just like your wiper blades, your car’s wheels and tires get worked a lot more during the winter and you should pay attention to them by getting them maintenance for spring. Driving with wheels out of alignment puts more wear and tear on your tires, shortening their lifespan. That means you would have to replace them earlier, spending your hard-earned money on something that could have been prevented.

Spring time is a beautiful time, and a signal that warmer days lay ahead. Just make sure your car is ready for the environmental changes. If you need any assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us at Cooper’s Auto Repair. We’re happy to help with any of your auto needs!