Upcoming Fall Vehicle Maintenance

Upcoming Fall Vehicle Maintenance

You may think fall isn’t an important time of the year to be performing any maintenance, but it’s better to complete this checklist while the weather is still mild. With autumn’s shorter days, cooler temperatures and inclement weather drawing closer, now is a good time to get your car ready for the demands of the coming driving season.

10 practical tips to help get your car ready for fall:

  1. Check your oil level, and add oil if necessary; it’s even better if you perform an oil and lube job. Be sure to use a multi-grade viscosity oil for winter driving.
  2. Inspect your windshield wipers. Bitter cold, snow and ice are hard on their rubber blades. You can find blades designed for winter at Consumer Auto Parts stores. Be sure to watch for special sales on windshield wiper blades during winter!
  3. Fill your windshield wiper reservoir with the proper type of windshield fluid for your climate, to avoid your windshield wiper fluid freezing in a big storm.
  4. Look at the level and condition of your engine coolant. If the level is low, add antifreeze. If the condition looks poor, do a flush-and-fill.
  5. Have someone evaluate your belts and hoses. Check all of belts and hoses for fraying, cracking or leaking, and if you find any be sure to replace them.
  6. This would be the best time to consider a tune up, especially if you haven’t had one within the past 25,000 miles.
  7. Inclement weather and associated road conditions and other hazards require good stopping power. If the tires have wear bars showing, say the experts, you need to replace the tires. Also check the tire pressure, as tire pressure drops when the outside temperatures plummet. Keep the pressure at levels recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
  8. (optional) Apply high-grade car wax to your vehicle’s exterior to help protect it from the possible onslaught of snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain. It will also help avoid the salt from ruining the paint on your car. ( You may also find this in any of our Consumer Auto Parts locations)
  9. It doesn’t hurt to get a winter survival kit consisting of : Jumper cables, flares, ice scrapers, road salt, flashlights, flares.
  10. Lastly having a first aid kit with blankets, snacks, band-aids, gauze just in case of any medical emergencies.

If you finish going through this list you are all ready for the upcoming winter!

If you are lacking any of these items, please visit out website at consumerautopartsonline.com