Fall is just around the corner. That means it’s the perfect time to do a little fall car maintenance on your vehicle to get it ready for the cold winter months. This is especially true if your schedule is going to be fairly hectic with driving to and from after-school activities and carpooling. And then, there are the fall leaf peeping trips you may want to take. Make sure your car, truck or van is in good health by following these five practical fall car maintenance tips.
1. Have the engine oil and filter changed. It’s important to keep the vital engine components well-lubricated by replacing the oil and filter on a regular basis. Just like fall is a good time to change the battery in your smoke detector, you should have the oil and filter changed in anticipation of the winter weather.
2. How are the other vital engine fluids? The level and condition of other fluids – brake, steering, transmission and antifreeze – should be checked once a month. These fluids lubricate and keep parts from corroding. When the fluids get old, they don’t do their job as effectively. If you bring your vehicle to our shop for fall maintenance, we will check them for you and let you know if any need to be replaced.
3. Are your tires up for the task of driving in the winter? Just like every other engine part, tires need periodic maintenance. Check the tire air pressure once a month and inspect them to make sure they are wearing evenly. Have the tires rotated every time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change (or about every 3,000 miles). If you need new tires, give us a call. We can help you select the best tires for your needs and budget.
4. Optimize visibility. With less daylight hours, it’s important to optimize your visibility. Do a driveway check to make sure the headlights, directional, brake and back-up lights are working properly. Replace any bulbs that are burned out. Change the wiper blades and have any windshield cracks or dings fixed or the windshield replaced. Consider having yellowed or cloudy headlights restored.
5. How much life is left in your battery? If a car battery is going to fail, it will most likely happen on a hot summer or cold winter day. Fall is the perfect time to have a battery test done. If the battery is around 4 years old, have it replaced before it fails.
Your fall car care was never simpler than calling Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, New Jersey. We will get your vehicle ready for the colder months. Click here to schedule your fall car maintenance now.
One last thing, Travel Channel has some helpful Leaf-Peeping Road Trip Tips you might want to check out before you head out to take a look at all the beautiful fall foliage. Here’s a link to their tips > http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/road-trips/articles/leaf-peeping-road-trip-tips
photo credit: Stanley Zimny (Thank You for 25 Million views) Colorful Autumn Leaves via photopin (license)