Spring Maintenance for your Vehicle

Spring will soon be in bloom, so it’s almost time to pack up the kids and set out on a road trip for some quality time out of the house. Family road trips can be fun and exciting, but a breakdown or problem can definitely put a damper on the fun. For optimal performance from your vehicle, it definitely needs regularly scheduled maintenance and a bit of upkeep. We at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bentonville would like to offer a few spring-cleaning tips to get your vehicle in tip-top condition for your next road trip, helping make it a memorable, hassle-free experience with the family. 

POOP-FREE EXTERIOR: There’s nothing as frustrating as your vehicle getting hit with bird poop. Once it’s dried, that stuff can be like concrete, and scrubbing at it can be bad for the exterior paint. Wait too long to clean the dried bird droppings or bug guts off your car, and you might even cause permanent damage to the finish. One suggestion helpful tip for getting bird droppings off your vehicle without damaging the exterior paint is to squirt a little WD-40 on the area, let it sit for 60 seconds, then rinse or wipe away with a soft cloth. Be sure to test a spot of the WD-40 somewhere in an inconspicuous area like a door jamb or inner fender to make sure it doesn’t harm the paint.

HEALTHY MAINTENANCE: Make sure that your vehicle’s fluid levels are at the optimal operating levels. Along with routine oil changes, there’s a few other little things you’ll want to check as well. For example, check your vehicle’s engine air filter to see if it needs to be replaced. The filter helps remove dirt and debris from the air stream entering your engine. Let it get too clogged, it can negatively affect mileage and performance. Along with checking fluid levels, check to see if your vehicle has enough windshield wiper fluid. Also while you have your vehicle’s hood up, clear out the dead leaves. Check your tires as well. With winter come and gone, your vehicle’s tire pressure will have fluctuated due to outdoor temperature change. That is why it’s good to have a tire gauge tucked away in the glove box to make sure the pressure is spot on. 

MOVE IT, WINTER! To make room for Spring, clear out the winter stuff! You probably won’t need that extra pair of gloves, ice scraper, or tire chains this summer, so store them elsewhere to keep your vehicle clutter-free. Spring is also a great opportunity to clean all the windows inside and out, vacuum the upholstery, and give your vehicle a once-over with car cleaning wipes for a fresh feel. Also, to protect the interior surfaces of your vehicle, wipe down the interior with a protectant designed to repel UV rays. No matter what season it is, however, it’s still very practical to keep a flashlight with fresh batteries for emergencies and a tire pressure gauge on hand as well. Until Covid-19 is in the history books, it’s also probably smart to keep a small kit together with disposable face masks and hand sanitizer. 

TRASH HACK: With all the eating people during a road trip and having to deal with disposable masks, you might want to think about keeping trash contained. The perfect hack for that is transforming an inexpensive plastic cereal container into a clever trash collector. Insert a small trash can liner to create a spill-proof trash can that’s guaranteed not to leak. When you’re ready to hit the road, just pop a new bathroom trash can liner in the cereal container and then you are ready to roam while keeping your ride clean. 

These are just a few suggestions to send your Spring adventure in the right direction with spring cleaning your vehicle! At McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bentonville, we are here and ready to serve our great community. Let us assist you when the time comes for you to buy your next new vehicle. If your car is in need of maintenance or servicing, you can schedule a service maintenance appointment online. 

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE MCLARTY DANIEL SALES TEAM

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