Easy Car Care Tips to Transition to Spring

By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach^®

April is National Car Care Month – a reminder that your trusty ride needs some TLC after months of wear and tear. You can save about $1,200 a year by doing basic maintenance yourself! A great investment considering the cost of a new vehicle is averaging $34,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

These 4 tips will help you be prepared for the warmer temperatures and get the most out of your investment.

1.] Change your oil, it’s the life-blood of your car.

How would you like to change your oil only once a year? Yes, this is possible. Mobil 1 Annual Protection oil safeguards your engine for one full year or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. It’s scientifically proven to reduce oil breakdown and provide longer engine protection.

I personally only use full synthetic oil because it maximizes engine life, prevents harmful deposits, better mpg’s and you save time too.

2.] Check your tires – its all the touches the ground.

What is the correct tire pressure for my car? The correct tire pressure will be shown in one of three places – a placard on the driver’s side door jamb, a placard inside the glove box or listed in the owner’s manual. Tire pressure specifications are meant for when the tire is cold; therefore, if the vehicle has been driven or the tire has been sitting in direct sunlight, the tire pressure may read higher than the manufacturer’s specification and should not be adjusted until the tire is cold.

This is a great time to inspect your tires. Are they worn unevenly or bald or damaged from that pothole you couldn’t avoid? Now would be the best time to get new tires.

Great handling and control in both dry and wet dry road conditions are the most important factors. Kumho Ecsta PS91 tire is an Ultra High Performance Summer tire for drivers of sporty vehicles. Kuhmo makes tires for all vehicles and is offering a Spring Rebate – save up to $100 on new set of Kumho Tires – April 1^st – May 31^st.

3.] Keep it Charged?

Having trouble starting your car, or have a blown bulb? Get your battery tested for Free – no appointment necessary. Batteries + Bulbs offers a wide selection of car batteries from AGM to premium Duracell Ultra batteries. Their knowledgeable staff can educate you on maintenance tips too.

If you need a new battery, you can receive FREE professional replacement battery installation on most models, and the store will take care of recycling the old battery.

53% of drivers wait to replace batteries until they are dead – be proactive!

4.] See clearly all year long  – Wiper blades

We all need wiper blades so we can safely see while driving, but the windshield wiper really hasn’t changed much since it was invented in 1903, until now. Improving on an old design, Scrubblade is an innovative wiper blade that removes rain like traditional wiper blades but with an added scrubbing feature for a clearer, more particle free windshield. More than rain hits your windshield so why don’t wiper blades help remove these other elements?  

These blades have a scrubbing feature that clears water, bugs and debris for better visibility. You can get these unique wipe blades at travel stops or online.

Remember – 80% of your driving decisions are based on visibility. Change your wiper blade every 6-months for the safest way to travel.

The non-profit Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a FREE Car Care Guide, visit www.carcare.org