Preventative Maintenance Tips for Seasonal Changes

Keeping your car in good condition is a year-long pursuit for most drivers. However, it becomes even more essential when the seasons start to change. Winter and summer climates tend to put the greatest stress on your car. Not to mention, these temperatures ultimately impact how well your vehicle will run. As you bid farewell to one season and you welcome the next, you may be inclined to shift your focus from buying practical car accessories and instead complete preventative maintenance tasks that warrant your safety.

To help keep you and your vehicle safe during the seasonal changes, we’ve gathered some of our most useful tips below. Simply put, if you don’t think you need to perform preventative maintenance, then think again!

Here’s our guide to preventative maintenance tips for every season

Tires

A crucial part of preventative maintenance includes making sure your tires are suitable for the changing temperatures. In winter, for example, the roads become more icy and filled with snow which make tires with good traction a necessity.

If the tread on your tires has worn down over time, this will increase your odds of experiencing hydroplaning or other dangerous driving conditions. Consider winter tires with deeper treads in the event you live in an area with significant snow or slush each year.

Oil Change

Spring and summer bring forth a number of environmental changes that can wreck havoc on your car. From dry and dusty roads to rain and debris, these months of the year are keen to make an impact on how your well vehicle looks and runs.

Around this time, you also have a greater chance of your oil getting dirty. In addition, the sweltering heat from the summer months can lead to a faster depletion of fluids in your car in general. To avoid clumpy and grimy oil, you should plan on getting an oil change at least every 6 months.

Brakes

When winter arrives, your brakes will work extra hard to adjust for the ice and snow. That is why winter is a great time to have your mechanic perform a brake inspection. While assessing the caliper, rotor, drum and pads, the mechanic can determine whether everything is in working order. Or at least, pin point the current status of your brake operations.

Because slippery roadways pose a dangerous driving scenario, this is a preventative maintenance task that should never be overlooked. With a brake replacement, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your car will halt to a complete stop in all types of conditions.

Heating and A/C

The alternating seasons also take a toll on how well your vehicle can regulate temperatures. Refreshing fall temps and icy cold winters are usually a good time to reevaluate the state of your heating in the car. Alternatively, summer months are far from enjoyable unless your vehicle has functioning air conditioning.

Overall, we recommend gauging the quality of your A/C or heating ahead of time. For instance, if you notice warm or hot air sometimes emits from your vents, this is usually a good indication that something is wrong with your HVAC system.

General tune-up

Not every driver can predict maintenance problems. In that case, ask your mechanic for a general inspection instead. They’ll make sure every working part is in pristine condition. By evaluating every function (from the battery down to the engine), a mechanic can quickly conclude what repairs are required in preparation of seasonal changes.

Whether it be a headlight replacement or a change of clean fluids, being prepared will help secure your safety as the environment around you transitions.

Overview of preventative maintenance tips

While preventative maintenance tips are imperative for maintaining your safety during the seasons, it doesn’t always require the help of a professional. In fact, you can complete several of these tasks right at home! From an assessment of your tire tread to a DIY fluid check, we hope you find the time to directly evaluate your car’s condition.

If you want to learn more seasonal driving tips, then read our post on ‘5 Safe Driving Tips for the Thanksgiving Holiday‘.