Spring Vehicle Maintenance Tips

As leaves turn from burnt orange to vivid green and temperatures become almost perfect, it's evident that Spring is here. While we may have a few more weeks of sweater weather, it's the perfect time to start preparing your vehicle for spring. At Marthaler Toyota of Ashland, we've outlined some of the top spring vehicle maintenance tips to ensure your vehicle delivers peak performance for as long as possible. Read on to learn more, and don't hesitate to contact Marthaler Toyota of Ashland.

Start with Your Spring Maintenance at the Tires

As the only part of your vehicle that makes physical contact with the road, your tires are important to the performance and safety of your vehicle. Here are a few tips and best practices you can use to ensure your tires are safe and up to the task at hand. And, always refer to your owner's manual for specifics on your tires.

Check tire pressure: Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before any long trips. Properly inflated tires can help improve fuel efficiency and prolong tire life.
Rotate tires: Rotating your tires helps ensure even wear and prolongs the life of your tires.
Check tire tread: Inspect the tire tread regularly using a tread depth gauge. You can also perform the penny test. It involves inserting a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head facing down. If you can see the top of his head, it's time to replace the tire.
Alignment: Proper alignment ensures even tire wear and can improve your vehicle's handling and fuel efficiency.
Balance: Unbalanced tires can cause uneven wear and affect your vehicle's handling.

Schedule a Brake Inspection

Winters in Ashland can be brutal. The snow, ice, and salt of winter can be especially hazardous to your vehicle, especially your brakes. Over time, these conditions can cause brake components to wear down or rust, potentially reducing braking performance. At the same time, most drivers use their brakes more frequently during winter due to slippery roads. This increased usage can cause brake pads and rotors to wear down more quickly. As a result, it's ideal to have a brake inspection as a part of your spring maintenance tips.

Install New Windshield Wipers

Like your brakes, your windshield wipers take a beating in the winter elements. The ice, freezing temperatures, and snow can cause your windshield wiper blades to crack, become brittle, and break. When your windshield wipers are damaged, they can't clean your windshield effectively, leave streaks, and reduce visibility in rainy weather. Instead of leaving your windshield wiper effectiveness up to chance, it's best to proactively inspect and replace them as needed.

Perform a Battery Inspection & Test

Your battery is the centralized component of your vehicle's electrical system. Anytime your battery is damaged or weak, it can prevent your vehicle from starting or cause it to stall while you're driving. And this can put you in danger. While this can occur at any time of the year, spring presents a uniquely challenging time for your battery. After weathering Ashland's long and cold winters, your battery may be weak and more likely to fail. Instead of waiting for your battery to fail at the most inopportune time, schedule a battery inspection and test to detect an issue before it becomes a problem.

Change Your Oil and Oil Filter

No matter the time of the year, it's always important to have your oil changed as suggested by the manufacturer. Fresh, nutrient-rich oil is paramount to the safe and efficient performance of your engine. While it's one fluid, motor oil performs many roles:

Reduce wear and tear from friction
Lubricates parts in the engine with a film of oil
Cleans various engine parts.
Helps keep engine parts and components cool
Creates a seal in the combustion chamber and other locations
Reduces and absorbs mechanical shock
Prevents corrosion
Transfers energy

To perform these tasks, your motor oil includes specialized additives and detergents. Over time, however, these additives are consumed, causing the oil to degrade and turn to thick sludge. When this happens, your motor oil loses the ability to perform its most critical roles. This can lead to reduced engine performance, reduced efficiency, and even engine failure. Fortunately, the easier and most cost-efficient solution is to schedule a spring oil change at Marthaler Toyota of Ashland.

Contact Marthaler Toyota of Ashland for Spring Vehicle Maintenance

No matter the time of the year, preventative maintenance and factory-recommended maintenance are vital to the health and longevity of your vehicle. At Marthaler Toyota of Ashland, we are the premier Toyota dealership in the region. We offer a state-of-the-art Service Center where our certified technicians can perform all types of maintenance and repairs on Toyotas and other models.

Contact Marthaler Toyota of Ashland today to schedule preventative maintenance.