April isn’t only the month many people swap their winter tires for summer tires but it’s also National Car Care month as well, a good time to have your automobile checked for any issues that might have developed over the long, cold winter, investigate any funny noises, and prepare your vehicle, as my Mercedes-Benz dealer in New York, Helms Bros., put it in an e-mail, “prepare your car for the summer adventures ahead.”
Most people rely on their vehicle’s computer to inform them when their tire pressures are low but newer cars with tire pressure monitoring systems mean that people don’t physically examine their tires as routinely as in the past. The same goes for waiting for the “low oil” light to go on versus checking the engine oil level.
Indeed, 35% of car owners neglected or postpone repairs and recommended services, according to a report from the American Automobile Association.
Spring is also a good time to make sure that you don’t need new tires and to schedule any postponed vehicle maintenance.
My car gets its New York State inspection in June so I typically leave my car at the dealership for a detailing, oil change if required, and inspection all performed at during the same appointment.
This isn’t a sponsored article, but had I not received an e-mail first thing this morning from Helms Bros. telling me it was National Car Care Month, I would not have even known this observance existed.
It always pays to be fully aware of your vehicle’s current state. Regular vehicle care, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs are crucial to safe driving.
In addition, if you are planning a road trip, do a vehicle walkaround similar to what a pilot does before a flight, check your battery, inspect belts and hoses, top off fluids, replace filters if required, verify that headlights, turn signals, and taillights are functional, and check the brakes and tires.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
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