By Justin Pritchard
Sidebar: The five-minute on-the-go interior detail
There’s that distinct smell in the air, mornings aren’t so chilly, and it’s obvious that summer is just around the corner. Hopefully, your family vehicle has made it through the winter unscathed - and you might be thinking of putting it back into warm-weather mode.
You’ll want to rinse off all the salt, put your summer tires back on, get the paint protected and give the interior a good cleaning - as well as taking care of any and all springtime maintenance which might be required.
Here are some tips and pointers to ready your wheels for warmer weather and summertime road trips.
Under the hood
Your engine and transmission have a variety of fluids and filters to keep them running at their best: fuel, oil, coolant, and more. Winter is hard on these fluids - especially the transmission fluid and engine oil. Grab a service manual and change any fluids that might need to be replaced, or take your ride to your favorite lube-shop to have the work done professionally.
Don’t take fluids lightly - many a mechanic says that they’re the life-blood of your vehicle. If you neglect them, you shouldn’t expect your car to be healthy for the long term.
Make sure to change your air filter on time as well, as a plugged or dirty filter can cost you performance and mileage. Also, if your older engine seems a little under the weather, why not try some intake tract cleaner? It costs about $10 and removes years of grime from your intake and vacuum hoses. Often times, it’s all that’s needed to bring a sluggish engine back to life.
Remember that no matter how new and advanced your car might be, it still needs to be maintained. If not, it could emit 50 percent more pollution or use 50 percent more fuel than a vehicle which has been neglected. Note that such neglect will often void your new-car warranty. If you have any questions about maintenance, check your owners manual or give your vehicle’s dealership a call: they’ll be happy to inform you of the proper procedures.
Out of town or away from your dealership? Require a fluid change or other work performed at a franchise shop or local mechanic? Be sure to save your receipts. Although visiting a non-dealer establishment for service while on a road-trip is rarely a problem, it pays to hold onto any records to be safe.
Have you ever wondered what to put in your tank before a road trip? To decide between the premium and regular grades of gasoline, just look in your owner’s manual. If your car only needs 87 octane fuel and you feed it 91 or more hoping for better mileage, more power or some cleaning effect, you’re simply wasting your money. Be assured that the petroleum companies care little if you spend the extra 12 cents per litre needlessly. There is no increase in power or mileage to be had by feeding a run-of-the-mill engine premium gas.
Don’t waste money on those gadgets that claim “up to a 15% savings in fuel” either.
Modern engines are very advanced, but still need regular maintenance. Click image to enlarge
It doesn’t pay to use Premium needlessly. Click image to enlarge
Perhaps your factory alloy wheels sat in the garage all winter with summer tires mounted. Once back on your vehicle, they can be kept clean with a “tire and wheel cleaner” from your favorite car-care section, or scrubbed clean with a soft brush when washing. Remember: never use the same sponge or rag to wash your vehicle’s paint and clean the rims. Brake dust (formed as your brake-pads wear down) collects on wheels and is harmful to your finish.
You can protect against heavy brake-dust buildup on your rims with a wheel protection spray, or simply wipe some WD40 over their surface with a clean rag to form a slick layer that the brake dust will have a hard time sticking to.
Rims
Don’t forget to clean and protect your wheels. Click image to enlarge
What’s behind those rims is one of the most important parts of your vehicle: its brakes. Winter driving can put a lot of wear and tear on brake components with added dirt and salt exposure, more frequent use of ABS and ESP systems, and extremes of temperature. Springtime is ideal to have your brakes checked professionally and ensure that they work their best should you need to panic stop.
Brakes
The family minivan or SUV sees a lot of dirt in a given week. Muddy shoes, hockey bags and slurpee-wielding toddlers are just a few of the culprits - and cleaning your family ride can often be a bit of a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be.
It’s a great idea to maintain your vehicles interior and exterior for the longevity of its paint and carpeting, so here are some tips to ensure a long-lasting shine and pleasant, clean interior.
Cleaning and Detailing Tips
There are a variety of products available for cleaning your car, inside and out. Click image to enlarge
First things first: it is NOT okay to wash your car with dish soap. Car finishes (like your skin) require a gentle cleaner to take away grime but leave behind protection. Your car’s paint has protective finishes built in, and possibly remnants of its last coat of wax. Trouble is, dish-soap thinks these things are just leftover turkey supper and strips them away: not ideal to keep your car looking new. Remember that protecting the paint also protects the sheetmetal underneath it.
Your paint takes plenty of abuse over the winter. We’ve all been stuck behind a plough-truck as it dumps heaping chunks of salt all over the roadway, often times chipping away at the front of your machine. A paint sealant, or at least a coat of wax, is a good idea to maintain a barrier which keeps your vehicle’s finish protected from such damage.
Don’t have the time or elbow grease to do a full wax job yourself? Check the car-care isle at your favourite store on your next visit and look for a quick-detailer or wax spray. Products are available which can be misted over the damp vehicle after washing, and then wiped off as you dry, leaving behind a protective and water-repellant coating.
Exterior
A proper washing technique, plus using the right products, will help keep your vehicle looking newer, longer. Click image to enlarge
The footwell carpeting of your vehicle is probably covered in a crusty concoction of sand and salt. It might look hopeless, but the fix is fairly simple. Rent the carpet steam cleaner from your favourite grocery store and make sure to get the upholstery wand attachment. This will allow you to clean inside your vehicle. Doing so will help make sure that no sand or salt is left behind to be ground into your carpeting and wear it out prematurely. The steam cleaner can also be used to remove stains from seating areas - just be sure to let them dry completely before driving.
Don’t forget to protect the plastic parts like your dashboard and console. They’re designed to be durable, but they put up with a lot of wear and tear from sunlight and extreme temperatures. Any protection you can offer will see them lasting longer. But be careful: if you cheap out on cleaners, you may wind up with worn-out or cracked surfaces. Make sure you look for a product guaranteed not to damage vehicle components.
Interior
Automotive stores like Canadian Tire and PartSource, as well as department stores like Zellers, carry a wide range of car cleaning products. Click image to enlarge
Hate it when people get into your car without cleaning off their shoes from dirt and sand outside? Don’t want to wait for the next visit to the car-wash to vacuum your floor mats? Why not invest in a 12-volt portable car-vac? It resembles the traditional dust-buster you might have at home, though when plugged into your cigarette lighter, it allows quick and easy cleaning of the vehicles floor while on the go. I found a great one at Canadian Tire for about $30. Use a portable vac as part of your five-minute on-the-go interior detail.
A Handy Accessory