Spring

Spring Car Maintenance Checklist: Essential Tips for a Smooth Ride

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A red car drives down a winding asphalt road surrounded by lush greenery and sunlight, symbolizing spring car maintenance and seasonal driving tips.

Spring Car Maintenance Checklist: Essential Tips for a Smooth Ride

Spring is the perfect time to get your car ready for warmer weather. Winter conditions can take a toll on your vehicle, so a spring maintenance check helps ensure a smooth, safe ride while preventing costly repairs. Kelley Blue Book recommends keeping a detailed service record and scheduling a routine checkup every six months. Here’s what you can do:

A woman crouches beside her car, checking the tire pressure with a gauge to ensure safe spring driving and proper vehicle maintenance.

1. Check Your Tire Pressure

Winter weather can cause tire pressure fluctuations and excessive tread wear, making driving conditions unsafe. Before hitting the road this spring:

  • Adjust tire pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI to maintain stability and fuel efficiency.

  • Check tread depth using the penny test—if Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time to replace your tires.

  • Rotate tires to promote even wear and extend their lifespan, ensuring better grip and performance.

2. Change Oil & Filters

Oil lubricates the engine, preventing overheating and damage to vital components. Seasonal changes are an ideal time for an oil change.

  • Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000–5,000 miles or per your vehicle’s manual to keep your engine running smoothly.

  • Replace air filters to improve airflow, enhance fuel efficiency, and prevent engine strain.

  • Check and replace the cabin air filter, which helps maintain clean air inside the vehicle.

A close-up of a person pouring fresh motor oil into a car engine, demonstrating the importance of regular oil changes for spring vehicle maintenance.
A close-up of a person pouring fresh motor oil into a car engine, demonstrating the importance of regular oil changes for spring vehicle maintenance.

2. Change Oil & Filters

Oil lubricates the engine, preventing overheating and damage to vital components. Seasonal changes are an ideal time for an oil change.

  • Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000–5,000 miles or per your vehicle’s manual to keep your engine running smoothly.

  • Replace air filters to improve airflow, enhance fuel efficiency, and prevent engine strain.

  • Check and replace the cabin air filter, which helps maintain clean air inside the vehicle.

Water sprays off a car windshield, creating a rainbow effect in the sunlight, symbolizing the freshness of spring car maintenance.

3. Inspect Wiper Blades & Fluids

Spring showers can reduce visibility, making properly functioning wipers and topped-off fluids essential.

  • Replace worn-out wiper blades if they leave streaks or squeak against the windshield.

  • Refill windshield washer fluid to ensure a clear view in rainy conditions.

  • Check coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid levels, and top them off as needed to maintain performance.

4. Inspect Your Breaks

Brakes are crucial for safety, and winter conditions can accelerate wear. Be sure to:

  • Listen for squeaks, grinding, or clicking noises, which could indicate worn brake pads.

  • Check for vibrations or delayed braking response, which may suggest rotor warping or uneven wear.

  • Schedule a brake inspection to ensure pads, rotors, and fluid levels are in optimal condition.

A driver’s foot presses down on a car pedal, emphasizing the importance of brake checks and safe driving habits for spring travel.
A driver’s foot presses down on a car pedal, emphasizing the importance of brake checks and safe driving habits for spring travel.

4. Inspect Your Breaks

Brakes are crucial for safety, and winter conditions can accelerate wear. Be sure to:

  • Listen for squeaks, grinding, or clicking noises, which could indicate worn brake pads.

  • Check for vibrations or delayed braking response, which may suggest rotor warping or uneven wear.

  • Schedule a brake inspection to ensure pads, rotors, and fluid levels are in optimal condition.

A mechanic in a blue uniform tests a car battery using a diagnostic tool, ensuring the vehicle is ready for springtime driving.

5. Test Your Battery

Cold weather weakens battery power, increasing the likelihood of unexpected failures. To keep your car starting reliably:

  • Test battery voltage at a local auto shop—many offer free battery checks.

  • Inspect battery terminals for corrosion and clean them with a wire brush if needed.

  • If your battery is over three years old, consider replacing it to avoid breakdowns.

6. Clean & Protect Your Car

Spring is the perfect time to wash away winter grime that can cause rust and deterioration.

  • Wash your car thoroughly, including the undercarriage, to remove salt buildup that leads to corrosion.

  • Apply wax to protect your vehicle’s paint from UV rays, rain, and debris.

  • Vacuum and wipe down the interior, removing accumulated dust and moisture to prevent mold growth.

A man washes the tires of a black car, scrubbing off dirt and road salt as part of a spring vehicle cleaning routine.
A man washes the tires of a black car, scrubbing off dirt and road salt as part of a spring vehicle cleaning routine.

6. Clean & Protect Your Car

Spring is the perfect time to wash away winter grime that can cause rust and deterioration.

  • Wash your car thoroughly, including the undercarriage, to remove salt buildup that leads to corrosion.

  • Apply wax to protect your vehicle’s paint from UV rays, rain, and debris.

  • Vacuum and wipe down the interior, removing accumulated dust and moisture to prevent mold growth.

Why Spring Car Maintenance Matters

Seasonal maintenance keeps your car safe, efficient, and reliable, reducing the risk of costly repairs. A well-maintained car enhances fuel efficiency, improves driving safety, and prolongs the life of essential components. By following this spring checklist, your vehicle will be road-trip ready for the season ahead.

Interested in other ways to keep you car running at peak performance?

Check out our other helpful blog posts:

Spring Car Maintenance Checklist: Essential Tips for a Smooth Ride Read More »

A father with his daughters and dog sitting in an open car trunk outdoors.

The Top Spring Car Maintenance Tips

Blog, Car Maintenance, Spring / / / ,
A father with his daughters and dog sitting in an open car trunk outdoors.

The Top Spring Car Maintenance Tips

Spring is almost here, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to get your car in top shape for the warm months ahead. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely, and there are a few key things you should do to prepare your car as we get ready to say goodbye to winter. Here are our top spring car maintenance tips.

A man is inflating one of the tires on his car.Check your tires: Cold weather can be tough on tires, so make sure they are properly inflated and have enough tread left. Consider getting a tire rotation to ensure even wear and extend the life of your tires.

Change your oil: Regular oil changes are crucial to keeping your engine running smoothly. Many experts recommend getting your oil changed every 3,000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first.

Inspect your brakes: Brakes are one of the most important safety features on your car, so it’s important to make sure they are in good working condition. Have your brake pads and rotors checked to ensure they are not worn down and need replacing.

A young girl helping to wash a car outside.

Check your battery: Cold temperatures can be tough on car batteries, so it’s a good idea to have it checked in the spring. Make sure the battery terminals are clean, and if your battery is more than three years old, consider replacing it.

Clean your car: Spring is the perfect time to give your car a good cleaning. Not only will it look better, but it will also help protect the paint and prevent rust and corrosion.

By following these simple maintenance tips, you can help ensure your car is ready for the road this spring. It’s important to remember that regular maintenance will save you money in the long run by preventing costly repairs.

The Top Spring Car Maintenance Tips Read More »

How to Get Your Car Spring Ready

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HOW TO GET YOUR CAR SPRING READY

Winter is coming. While that may be true for the hit HBO television show, it’s not for car owners and lessees in the northeast. Those cold, early mornings of defrosting your car are finally in the rear view mirror. Spring is right around the corner and with the change of season comes new car maintenance responsibilities. Here are the top four ways to make sure your car is ready for spring:

1. Wash Your Car, Undercarriage & Floor Mats

While you should consistently wash your car throughout the year, it is especially important to thoroughly wash your car after months of driving through road salt. Over time, a buildup of road salt can cause damage and rust the undercarriage of the car. Road salt can also eat away at your car’s paint. As we head into the spring, be sure to wash away any excess salt. Even spray down the floor mats inside your car to get rid of any salt carried in from your shoes.

2. Replace Your Wiper Blades for Unobstructed Vision

After a long winter filled with ice and snow, wiper blades are left streaking and squeaking across your windshield. Ineffective wiper blades can create a real danger by impairing a driver’s vision. Rather than risk your safety during April showers, act now and provide yourself an unobstructed view. Replacing your wiper blades is a relatively inexpensive way to make sure your car is ready for the spring season.

2. Replace Your Wiper Blades for Unobstructed Vision

After a long winter filled with ice and snow, wiper blades are left streaking and squeaking across your windshield. Ineffective wiper blades can create a real danger by impairing a driver’s vision. Rather than risk your safety during April showers, act now and provide yourself an unobstructed view. Replacing your wiper blades is a relatively inexpensive way to make sure your car is ready for the spring season.

3. Check Your Tire Pressure

With lower temperatures comes lower tire pressure. The unforgiving winter cold can significantly lower your tire pressure, which can cause more wear and tear on the tires, as well as lower fuel efficiency. Tire pressure should always be monitored, especially as we head into a warmer weather season. Be sure to reference your car’s owner manual to ensure your tires are inflated to the recommended PSI. Also, be sure to inspect the tread of your tires to confirm that they are still in good shape.

4. Continue Servicing Your Car

No matter what season it is, it is always important service your car regularly. Timely oil changes, filter replacements and fluid refills are essential to keep your car running at peak performance. Always reference your car’s owner manual for more information about which parts of your car should consistently be serviced and when.

4. Continue Servicing Your Car

No matter what season it is, it is always important service your car regularly. Timely oil changes, filter replacements and fluid refills are essential to keep your car running at peak performance. Always reference your car’s owner manual for more information about which parts of your car should consistently be serviced and when.

For lessees of Fusion Auto Finance, be sure to reference our “No Surprises” Wear and Tear Policy” as a guide for servicing your leased vehicle. Stay informed on what qualifies as acceptable and normal wear and tear, as well as what is considered excessive and chargeable.

How to Get Your Car Spring Ready Read More »