Why Spring Maintenance is Important for Your Car, SUV, or Truck

Because Buick or GMC owner’s manual writers do not know when or where you bought your car, it has maintenance intervals based on miles.  But two of the most important maintenance intervals are seasonally based, specifically in the fall to prepare for winter and in spring to prepare for summer. 

The best venue for your spring maintenance is here at Valley Buick GMC where our certified technicians are familiar with your model and know just what to look for. Let’s discuss some spring maintenance procedures and why they are important. 

Oil and Oil Filter Change and Coolant Inspection

Motor oil has three jobs: lubricating, cooling, and cleaning. It is the cleaning and cooling functions that cause oil to degrade over time, and that, in turn, reduces its lubricating effectiveness.  Here in the Auburn area, occasional winter freezing can thicken oil which causes more pressure on the filter, particularly at start-up, and the filter may give out in places.  So it is good to replace both your oil and filter for the months ahead. Spring is also a good time to have your engine coolant level and condition examined since a warm front can come at any time.  

Battery Inspection

Cold temperatures slow down the chemical processes necessary for your battery to carry a charge, making your battery work harder.  It doesn’t always spring back when the temperatures rise, particularly if your battery is a few years old, leading to the possibility of battery failure in the spring or summer stemming from its endurance in the winter. Our service technicians can inspect your battery’s condition and make any subsequent recommendations helping you avoid surprises in the coming months.

Checking or Changing Your Tires

The Auburn area is relatively light in snow, but the state of Washington has the highest recorded snowfall in the continental United States.  So if you travel much in the state, you may have outfitted your car with snow tires. Spring maintenance service is a perfect time to switch back to conventional tires.

If you keep your all-season tires year-round, our technicians will check to make sure they all have a tread depth greater than 5/32 inches and will warn you of any possible tire issues. Also, potholes tend to form in the winter and early spring, so if your tires have fallen victim to them, our technicians will check your alignment. 

Keep an eye on your tire pressure as it gets warmer. Tires gain 1 to 2 pounds of air pressure for every 10 degrees rise in ambient temperature, so it is good to make sure your tires are not overinflated.  Remember to base your optimal pressure on the label in the driver’s door jamb and not the tires themselves.

Inspecting or Replacing Wiper Blades

Wipers get the most use in Washington winters,  In addition, colder temperatures may have hardened them, making them less compliant and prone to streaking.  Spring is a good time to inspect and possibly replace them. Summer driving can turn your windshield into an unintentional bug exterminator, so it is good both to have your wipers in top shape and your washer reservoir full.

Brake Inspection

With the heat comes reduced friction, and friction is the basis of automotive braking systems. So spring is a good time for a brake inspection. This includes pads, discs, lines, fluid, related electrical components, and sensors. It is likely that some cleaning is all that is required, but this is the time to see if there aren’t looming issues.

The Often Forgotten Cabin Filter 

Spring is prime allergy season. Cabin filters exist in part to help prevent allergens from flowing through the car. Such filters are a relatively recent addition to climate systems, so it is easy to forget they are there. If you haven’t changed out your cabin filter in a while, an old, full cabin filter could reduce the feeling of freshness in your car. Our service technicians know just where the filter is and how to inspect it.

Other Routine Inspections

A spring maintenance check will inspect other areas that need to be looked at from time to time, regardless of the climate. This may include headlight alignment, sweeping leaves and other debris from the engine compartment and exterior vents, and checking that fluid drains aren’t clogged, causing a pooling of water. Again, there is no one more qualified in this area to perform all these tasks on your Buick or GMC model than Valley Buick GMC. Consider making a spring maintenance appointment today to get your ride in top shape for the summer ahead.