How to Maintain Your Vehicle

Winter is here. Summer is in the rearview mirror. The days will get shorter and cooler as winter approaches. The changing seasons have a variety of effects on our vehicles and this presents an opportunity for regular vehicle maintenance.

Winter can present many challenges to drivers and their vehicles. That is why it is important to be prepared for the fall!

Here are 6 maintenance tasks for vehicles that you should be doing this fall:

Make an Oil Change

Although your oil level is fine, the colder weather makes oil more susceptible to freezing. However, the engine will be less cold.

Keep in mind that oil must be changed every 5,000 mi. This is especially true if you have done any traveling. A fresh oil change is a must in the fall to make sure everything runs smoothly into winter.

Heaters and defrosters must work

As you can see, heaters will turn on more frequently in Fall and Winter than they did during summer. It is important to make sure that you check your heaters regularly to ensure that they are operating as expected.

Defrosters should be checked as well. A frozen windshield is not something you want to have to scratch in the cold fall morning.

Check battery

The combination of warmer weather and the use heaters more often puts the vehicle's battery under greater strain when it falls. If necessary, you should take your battery to be checked and replaced. Clean the connections to make sure the wire is correctly connected.

Check lights

You should check your lights now, if not by the end of the summer. Fall will bring shorter days and more nights. Your lights will be used more often, so make sure all your lights work.

Make sure to check all lights including emergency lights, brake lights, taillights and emergency lights. They may need to be cleaned as well, since there could be dust, dirt and dead bugs that has built up over the summer.

Clean and Replace Windshield Wipers

Even though you might not have used your windshield wipers this summer, it's likely that this will change in the fall. Wipers should be kept clean and intact. If they aren't, they will not clear your windshield correctly and could pose a serious safety risk when driving in rain.

You should inspect your windshield wipers for any signs of wear or cracks and have them replaced immediately if they are damaged.

Check Tires

Fall and winter conditions can make it more dangerous for tires. You should check the pressure and fill it if necessary. If they are too low, you can also inspect the treads and replace them if necessary.