Is your ride ready for the fall and winter seasons? E3 Spark Plugs has seven easy DIY auto maintenance tips.
Temps are dropping and the sun’s going down earlier. The onset of the fall season means it’s time to ready your ride for the coming winter. E3 Spark Plugs recommends these six easy auto maintenance tips for the DIY mechanic.
- Change your windshield wiper blades: You’ll use yours more often in the fall and winter time, so it’s best to start the season with a fresh set. Don’t forget that back blade if you drive a hatchback, station wagon or SUV with a rear window wiper.
- Check your spare tire: Spare tires often are an out-of-sight, out-of-mind item but when you need yours, it’s critical that it’s in good shape. Tire pressure typically drops one PSI (pound per square inch) for every 10 degree drop in temperature, so check yours weekly as winter sets in. If the spare tire for your pickup truck or SUV is housed beneath your vehicle, try lowering, then raising it to make sure the cable mechanism that holds it is working properly. A good dose of WD-40 and lubing with white lithium grease each fall helps keep it working smoothly.
- Check and top off all fluids: Topped off windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid and antifreeze levels are a must. Replace your windshield washer fluid with a solvent that’s suited for cold weather use. Top off the antifreeze in your coolant recovery reservoir and make sure you’re using the correct type. Orange and green coolants cannot be mixed. As brakes wear, a minor drop in your brake fluid level is normal. If you see a significant drop, it may be a sign of a leak or other problem in your braking system. Get to the mechanic before the roads ice up.
- Replace the air filter: If your air filter is clogged, your vehicle’s fuel economy, performance and emissions suffer. And all that means money out of your pocket. We recommend changing your car’s or truck’s air filter twice a year.
- Check your battery terminals: Lots of ignition and electrical problems start with loose or corroded battery connections. The time it takes you to tighten them and the $4 you’ll spend on a brush to clean them is a lot easier and cheaper than dealing with bigger issues down the road.
- Check your lights: Shorter periods of sunlight make it tougher for you to see other vehicles on the road, and tougher for them to see you too.
- Check your spark plugs: Worn, fouled or cracked spark plugs can cause misfires, muddle your car’s performance and eat up its fuel economy. E3 car spark plugs, truck spark plugs, Jeep spark plugs and motorcycle spark plugs assure better mileage, better performance and a cleaner ride.
Got more DIY tips for fall/winter auto maintenance? Leave us a comment on the E3 Spark Plugs blog or our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.
