After the long winter, the wet and cold season leaves its mark on the car. The road salt has attacked the brakes, the rims and body are dirty, and the paint is dull. It’s time for a spring check. This article explains what it includes and what to look out for.
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Preparing the car for spring – what does it include?
Vehicle washing
The soiling of the car from road salt, grit, snow, and mud is very high in winter. First of all, it must therefore be cleaned thoroughly. Various programs are available for this in the car washes. Underbody washing is also possible and useful. Only when the car is clean does it become clear whether the long winter months have left their mark.
Why the removal of road salt is very important
Salt attracts moisture, making it difficult for the car to dry out properly. Furthermore, it has a corrosive effect in connection with water. This significantly increases the risk of rust on the vehicle after the winter. This makes cleaning the car and simultaneously removing the aggressive road salt, which can also attack the brake pads and brake discs, indispensable. The underbody and engine compartment are particularly affected by the residual salt. It is therefore advisable to wash the underbody with a seal. Many car washes offer an engine wash as an additional service.
Maintain paintwork
After washing the exterior, the paintwork should be carefully checked for damage such as stone chips and scratches from split or frozen snow to avoid rust spots in the long term. Small damage can usually be touched up with a touch-up pencil in the appropriate color. If they are bigger, it is advisable to visit a professional. A car polish ensures shine and offers long-term protection.
Check technology and fluid levels
The following parts should be checked during the spring check: lights, windshield wipers, and brakes. It is also advisable to take a look under the bonnet. The cold and frost also stress the cables and hoses. They could be cracked or brittle. The fluid levels such as coolant and engine oil must also be checked and topped up if necessary.
Change tires
The winter tires are stored, and the summer tires fitted, because the former are very dangerous in summer, just as summer tires are dangerous in winter. Both variants are specially designed for their time of the year with appropriate properties.
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Summary
In addition to the cold and frost, snow, dirt, salt, and split also affect the car in winter. The traces can be removed with a spring check. This begins with a thorough washing of the body and also the underbody, where salt residues increasingly accumulate. In addition, paint damage and scratches can occur in winter. It is important to remove these to avoid rust spots. The spring check also includes changing tires and checking fluid levels, technical components, hoses, and cables.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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