End of Winter Car Preparation and Maintenance

April 15, 2017

Driving through a Canadian winter can really take a toll on your vehicle. Heading into Spring, having your car completely unscathed is a rarity for most of us. Before we can put the worry of winter driving behind us, there are a few maintenance checks that are highly recommended to prepare your vehicle for warm weather driving.

Check Engine Fluids

First thing’s first, and this goes for the beginning of any season and in fact, on a regular basis are your vehicle requires: Checking the engine fluids such as, the engine oil, coolant levels, power-steering fluid levels, transmission fluid levels and windshield wiper liquid.

Belts & Hoses

Although wear and tear is a natural part of owning a vehicle, the wear on the engine’s belts and hoses seems to be accelerated after every winter due to the cold weather causing the rubber to harden and crack, loosen, or fray. If you have to replace one of your belts, you may also have to replace the tensioner and pulleys to keep the new belt from slipping.

Consider replacing and belts or hoses that appear worn out. Being proactive about this can save you a lot of trouble and potentially higher repair costs.  

Watch this video on how to check your belts and hoses

Battery

Cold weather is especially hard on car batteries. According to AAA’s Automotive Research Center, at 0°F, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength and at 32°F, it loses 35 percent. During cold temperatures, starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions. If your battery is more than 5 years old, consider replacing it with a new one.

Tire Pressure / Tire Swap

Driving through snow covered icy roads can really wear out the tread on your tires after some time. Check that your tire pressure is at an appropriate level, which varies from vehicle to vehicle – it’s best you check your owner’s manual if you’re unsure. When the outdoor temperature is consistently above 7 degrees Celsius, typically during the month of April or May, it’s safe to swap your winter tires for your all seasons or summer tires. The rubber on winter tires are designed to be more flexible during extreme cold weather conditions, therefore, the tread on winter tires will wear out faster in the heat, so it’s necessary to make the swap.

You can get all of these end of winter maintenance checks completed by a professional mechanic at Xtreme Tire Garage in Mississauga and the surrounding area. And get ready to “Spring” into action this coming season! Contact us and book your Spring maintenance appointment today.