Spring is finally upon us, along with everything the spring season brings: Opening Day of the baseball season, nearly forgetting Mother's Day, and a multitude of airborne irritants joining our airspace. After months cooped inside, it’s time to leave the familiar confines of home behind and embark on outdoor escapades.
Before you can do so, you must make sure your vehicle has recovered from the winter and can safely deliver you to your various spring destinations. Courtesy of New Motors Subaru, here’s a handy checklist of what components need inspecting before you hit the road this spring. While they’re listed by approximate order of importance, make no mistake that each is vital to your Subaru’s short and long-term health.
1. Battery
Your battery runs a greater risk of depletion during colder months, so the first thing you want to do when the weather warms up is make sure your battery is along for the ride. Although the average car battery lasts between four and five years, it drains at a much higher rate in extreme elements. That makes spring the logical time for a battery diagnosis, so that you can replace it before tourist season begins and your engine starts to cook in the summer heat.
2. Fluids
As surely as you spent the winter throwing back spiced beverages, your vehicle was guzzling through its own fluids. Get an oil change if you haven’t done so since last summer, and consider switching your oil’s viscosity to a heavier weight to help combat the warmer weather ahead. Keep your engine oil full to keep your engine protected and functioning normally. Refill your brake fluid, steering fluid, and coolant to their appropriate levels. Lastly, top off the windshield fluid: if not empty, it’s probably nearly spent from combatting sleet, salt, and other winter build up.
3. Tires
Just as batteries are more susceptible to drainage during colder months, your tires stand a greater chance of deflation. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your tires can potentially lose a full PSI. If you swapped out for winter tires last year (and good on you if you did), now is the time to transition the switch back to summer tires. If you’re rolling with the same tires, make sure to measure your air pressure pronto. Look for your tires’ recommended PSI levels on the sticker inside your driver’s door and inflate accordingly. Need a new set of tires for the new year? Look no further than New Motors Subaru's Tire Center.
4. HVAC System
Chances are you had the heat in your car running continuously throughout the winter. That means the same HVAC system that controls your air conditioning hasn’t necessarily been on vacation. Test to make sure you have cool air coming out of your vents before it really starts simmering. Refill your coolant until it reaches its appropriate levels. Lastly, replace your cabin air filter; there's likely a good amount of dust, dirt and debris collected in it from the winter.
5. Wiper Blades
Your windshield is often working overtime to maintain visibility during the winter. Between snow, ice, frost, and salt, there's more than enough to keep your blades occupied. As the rainy spring season approaches, take this time to install a set of well-functioning, seasonally appropriate blades. Spring storms can develop with little warning, and if you're stuck on the road when they hit, maintaining visibility is vital.
Checkmate
If you’ve checked off all five items from your list, you can rest easy; your vehicle is officially spring-certified. If you still need assistance with any part of your checklist, fear not: New Motors Subaru's Service Center has your back. From tire alignment to oil filter changes, we’re your one-stop shop for all your Subaru's maintenance needs. Schedule your service with us today and give yourself some peace of mind moving forward.
Get in the Easter spirit and hop on down to New Motors Subaru! We’ll make sure your Subaru is prepared to deliver you safely to all the adventures that await you this spring - and beyond.
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