A used vehicle can provide a tremendous amount of value for drivers on a budget. But in order to fully stretch the mileage of your dollars, some routine maintenance will be in order.
Spring is a good time to perform a few basic tasks on your car, as it will be emerging from the harsh winter weather and gearing up for those summer road trips. Below are five springtime maintenance tips for your used car that will help you maximize the value of your purchase and set you up for a summer on the road.
1. Give it a thorough cleaning
Cleaning your car is more than just a cosmetic thing. Salt on winter roads accumulates around the wheelbase, bumpers and in the undercarriage of your car. And that salt has corrosion properties that can eat away at the body of your car if left in place.
2. Check your tire pressure
Cold air causes air to contract, and that in turn causes the tire pressure on your car to drop. Pressure should return to normal levels again when the temperature heats up, but spring falls in that in-between time when you might find yourself with low tire pressure when the outside air remains relatively cool. Give your tire pressure a check and top off as needed.
3. Replace your wiper blades
Windshield wipers take a beating in the wintertime when they’re busy scraping away frost every morning. Come spring, the blades are often a bit worn and could use replacing. This is especially important because of spring thunderstorms when you will need to rely on a good set of wiper blades.
4. Change your oil
Motor oil tends to thicken up in the winter due to the colder air. That causes it to flow more slowly through the engine and can become sludgy by winter’s end. Plus, the chemical properties of oil can deteriorate in the cold and render the oil less effective. You’ll want to be changing your oil a few times per year anyway, so spring is a good time to go out with the old and in with the new.
5. Test your battery
Low temperatures force your battery to work harder, and by the time spring rolls around, it may not have a ton of juice left. Have your battery tested, check on your warranty date and replace it if necessary.
Shop Matthews Motors for Your Next Used Car
Spring is a great time to perform maintenance on your car, and it’s also the perfect time to move into a different vehicle altogether. If the maintenance on your used vehicle has become too much and you’re ready for a new chapter, visit our Goldsboro car dealership. Our used car lot has a wide variety of certified pre-owned and other used cars for sale with fair market trade in offers, generous specials and flexible financing. Give us a call at (919) 234-7775 and one of our sales experts will be happy to help.
