Spring has sprung and with the warmer weather comes a responsibility as a car owner to perform spring car maintenance.
From salt damage to potholes, the winter months can really do a number on vehicles.
Bob King, service manager at Clarkston Chrysler Jeep, says a vehicle should get inspected for suspension damage, and the spring is also a good time to look at tires, brakes, and air conditioning.
“You’ll always get a pressure change in tires that relates to temperature,” said King. “The cooler it is, the lower the pressure will be. When the weather gets warmer, you’ll need to change the pressure.”
King also recommends nitrogen tire inflation on any tire.
“This has been available for commercial tires and aircrafts for years,” he said. “With the molecular structure, the nitrogen is less likely to leak out of the tire and you won’t have pressure changes.”
According to King, nitrogen tire inflation also increases the life of the tire and helps the vehicle get better gas mileage.
“People are worried about nitrogen because they wonder what they’ll have to do if they need to add air,” said King. “Well, it’s the same as before. You can just add air and then during your next service you can have the nitrogen reinstated.”
A full interior and exterior detail, including shampooing and wash, is also beneficial to cars overall well-being because of the damage salt does to the underbody and the interior.
King also said that maintenance should be done periodically on all vehicles regardless of the season.
“If you don’t, you risk having a breakdown, safety issues, increased rust and overall a reduced value of your vehicle,” he said.
Spring maintenance can be done while you wait and appointments can be made for full detailing service, said King. For more information, call Clarkston Chrysler Jeep at 248-620-4200.