The term “spring cleaning” does not only apply to houses, but to vehicles as well. Preparing your vehicle for the spring season is necessary if you want to save yourself from potential car troubles later in the year, particularly the ones caused by the freezing temperatures of winter. To ensure your vehicle’s safety and performance, a Volkswagen dealership in Albuquerque, NM revealed some basic tips on how to make your car ready for spring.
Get your car thoroughly washed
Get every nook and cranny of your vehicle thoroughly washed to rid it of any road salt clinging at the undercarriage. Road salts are often sprinkled on icy roads to prevent it from being slippery and to avoid accidents.
If you have the budget, you can go for a premium car wash. But, if you are on a tight budget and want to wash it yourself, you must use enough water pressure to loosen the salt. If there is a strong salt buildup, then you should try adding baking soda to the wash water to help neutralize the salt.
Check your tires
Spring is the best time to check if your tires need to be replaced. According to a Volkswagen dealer in Albuquerque, NM, tire pressure decreases about one pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature.
This is why it’s important for car owners to check their tire pressure whenever the weather changes. Overinflation can lead to a stiffer ride and will wear out the center tread quickly. On the other hand, underinflation will waste gas as it forces the vehicle to use more power to move forward. Aside from checking the tire treads, take some time to rotate and re-balance your tires before hitting the road.
Replace the wiper blades
Winter is when your wipers work the hardest, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if their life expectancy during this time is the shortest. Don’t wait for the start of the rainy spring season before you replace the wiper blades. This is also the time to refill your car’s wiper fluid reservoir.
Replace your pollen filter
If you are one to suffer from seasonal allergies, then it is important to have your pollen filter replaced as soon as spring starts. Volkswagen’s pollen filter, in particular, can stop dust, dirt, and other miniscule debris from lowering the air quality of your interior cabin. It will help ensure that you have fresh air inside your cabin and will protect you from accidentally sneezing while driving.
Store away your winter gear.
During winter, it’s important to always bring a fully equipped emergency kit. But since spring is here, it might be best to put the emergency kit into storage once again. Keeping the extra baggage will only slow down your vehicle and waste more fuel. You don’t need to remove everything from your emergency kit though. You can still keep some of the essentials but you should store away the winter gear.
For more useful tips, check out your Fiesta Volkswagen dealer in Albuquerque, NM.
