You’re a Minnesotan.
Which means you’ve mastered how to get your vehicle ready for winter, but did you know there are ways to prepare your car for spring? It’s more than just putting the roof down.
After spending weeks… ok months… ok half of the year scraping ice off your windshield, salt off your tires, and snow off your hood, it’s time to treat old reliable to a nice warm bath. While it’s true that most cars were specifically designed to withstand the harshest of weather contrasts, (yes we’re talking about you, Minnesota) there are practical things you can do to help your car live longer.
Yes, first things first, get your car in the wash bay. Even during the winter, technicians recommend you wash your car regularly to remove all the gunk that easily builds up from salt and slush. If you haven’t been a loyal washer, fret not. Now is a great time to start! And while you’re at it, you might want to consider replacing your wiper blades.
Everyone can appreciate the satisfaction of the clean, crisp, clear swipe of new wiper blades. But there is nothing more irritating than when they leave dirty streaks across your windshield. The fact of the matter is, if your blades survived the entire winter, they are more than likely going to be croaked. Quite literally. At this point, they’ll probably be making some squeaky sounds and if that’s the case, it’s time to say goodbye.
The best part is, you can save money and do it yourself! If you don’t know how, here’s a quick tutorial!
Next, the only essential oil we’ll ever sponsor. Yes, change your engine oil before temps start to rise. Your car will love you for it. Plus, there is no downside to frequent oil changes. In fact, frequent oil changes protect and aid gas mileage. However, there are many variables that determine how often an oil change is needed. Climate conditions, mileage driven, and highway versus city driving all affect your vehicle’s need for fresh oil. We recommend you refer to the manufacturers specifications in the scheduled maintenance section of the owners’ manual. Most vehicles have a recommended interval of 5 months or 5000 miles or 7 months or 7500 miles.
Lastly, check your tires. Winter is brutal on many parts of your car, but your tires take the brunt of it. If your car had snow tires for the season, it’s time to swap those babies out. If you had all-season tires, you’re definitely going to want to check the tread.
You’re smart. We don’t need to tell you how dangerous worn out tires are to drive on. So make sure you use the ole penny trick on your wheels before you go spring cruisin’.
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