MERCER COUNTY
Spring checklist will keep your car on right road
By Joe Zentis
Herald Writer
Ah, spring, when a young person’s fancy turns to thoughts of ... auto maintenance. Of course, the poet was talking about love, but he lived long before there were two or three automobiles in almost every driveway.
These days, it’s a good idea to take a serious look at car care as the seasons change. If it’s neglected, your thoughts of love on that next romantic outing -- which almost always involves a car -- may be wiped out by an overheated engine, dead battery, or worse.
So what kind of car care is needed when winter turns to spring? If you’re a car-loving motorhead, you can skip this article because you probably keep your car properly maintained all of the time. If you’re someone like me, who loves the convenience of a car a lot more than the car itself, you might want to read on.
I asked a number of car care experts -- auto parts store managers, service technicians, a lube center owner, and a car leasing manager -- about spring auto maintenance. "Do you have any kind of checklist of things I should do this time of year?" I asked. They all looked at me blankly and said, "No, not really." After a little probing, they summed up the reason for this lack: "You should keep your car properly maintained all of the time."
In other words, they were all (no big surprise!) car-loving motorheads. But very helpful ones, I must admit. They agreed that my idea of a Spring Car Care Checklist might a good one, and suggested items to include. Here’s what we came up with:
Sit down and read your owner’s manual. There’s nothing magical about doing this in the spring, but if you haven’t been doing it, now is the time. It will tell you how often to change engine oil and filter. Check your car’s mileage, then read everything in the maintenance chart that should have been done up to now. If your vehicle is more than a year or two old, you’ll probably discover when you should have checked or replaced transmission fluid, timing belt, fan belt, engine coolant, air filter, spark plugs, etc.
If you have any doubts about whether any of the recommendations were missed, take care of them now. As with almost everything regarding auto maintenance, there’s the easy way and the greasy way. You can save a bit of money by changing your own oil and filter, if you’re willing to get your hands dirty and take the time to properly dispose of the old oil. But at least once a year -- springtime is good -- you probably would do well to spend the money and take your car to a reliable fast lube place. Besides changing the oil, they check fluid levels in the differential, transmission, power steering, battery, radiator, and windshield washer reservoir. If you don’t take it there, be particularly careful to do all the checks recommended in your owner’s manual.
Fluids aren’t the only concern. Check your belts for tightness and fraying. If you see signs of wear, get them replaced. Broken fan belts will leave you stranded by the side of the road.
Check your radiator hoses. It’s not enough to look at them, since they tend to break down from the inside out. While the engine is cool, squeeze the hose with thumb and forefinger near the clamps or connectors at each end, then squeeze it half way between them. If it feels softer near the ends, replace the hose.
Clean your battery terminals and coat them with the proper protectant. You can buy what you need at your local auto parts store for very little money. If your battery has plugs on top, pop them off and check the fluid levels. If they are down, add clean water.
While you’re at the auto parts store, you might want to buy some engine degreaser. It’s inexpensive and easy to use. You spray it on and hose it off.
Check your tires with a good pressure gauge. They’re inexpensive and usually more accurate than the setting on the air pump at your local gas station. Improper pressure can cause excessive tire wear, dangerous handling, and excessive fuel consumption. Take a good look at the tread. If it’s less than 1/16 of an inch deep, you run the risk of hydroplaning. There doesn’t have to be a lot of water on the road for you to find yourself with zero traction. Uneven tread wear may indicate the need for an alignment or suspension repair. If you find it, have your vehicle checked by a professional.
Check your windshield wipers. If the blades are the least bit worn, replace them. Clean the windows thoroughly and apply a glass treatment that repels water. It will keep the windshield cleaner and extend the life of your wiper blades. You might also consider buying windshield cleaner fluid instead of the less expensive anti-freeze. It does a much better job of cleaning off the summer bugs.
Thoroughly clean the outside of the car. Again, there’s the easy way and the greasy way to do this, too. You can drive to the automatic car wash, or you can get out the bucket and hose at home. At least once or twice a year you probably should do both. The new no-touch automatic car wash facilities can do things you can’t do in the driveway. They can clean your undercarriage with high-pressure spray, then coat it with a protectant. It’s worth the few extra bucks to get the winter crud out from those places you can’t reach. On the other hand, even the best automatic car washes may leave a bit of dirt here and there. Detailed personal attention and elbow grease will get rid of it. And as you’re going over it, look for any sign of paint damage and rust. The tiniest nick will almost certainly grow. The earlier you fix it, the easier it is.
Then there is the interior. Vacuum it out and scrub the carpeting with your favorite rug shampoo. Clean and protect the vinyl and upholstery. Your auto parts store has all the supplies you will need. If you don’t know what to buy, you might consider car cleaning kits that have everything you need, including car wash, tire gel, wax, sponge, applicator pad, and vinyl and rubber protectant.
Finally, ENJOY your clean and comfy vehicle. But don’t wait until next fall or spring to maintain it again. If you do, your enjoyment might be short-lived.
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Published Tuesday, March 20, 2001