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Cleaning Up
As you're putting those
heavy coats back into
mothballs, it makes sense to
do a little post-winter
clean up on your vehicle.
After all, it takes the
brunt of winter's misery,
whether in the form of
torrential downpours,
freezing rain, or mountains
of snow.
 Tires
First, tend to your tires,
even if you drive on what
the industry refers to as
"all season" tires. Heavy,
consistent snow and ice
require snow tires, which
absolutely should be
replaced with the non-snow
variety. Snow tires are more
expensive than standard
tires and are designed with
special tread for added
traction in icy and
snow-packed conditions.
Heavily treaded tires wear
out faster and should be
saved for next winter. If
you drive on all season
radials, this is the time to
rotate them (back to front).
The drive wheels will wear
more quickly, especially
under winter driving
conditions. By rotating them
seasonally, you extend the
life of the set.
Blades
Wiper blades also take a
severe beating. Cold
temperatures are hard on
rubber compounds, and they
also get bombarded with
dirt-laden slush kicked up
by traffic. This slush often
carries with it corrosive
salt used to melt road ice,
which also does a number on
your blades. Early spring is
a good time to check and
replace them if necessary.
Replenish your windshield
fluid as well since there's
a good chance winter's dirt
has exhausted the reservoir.
Underbody
Next, clean your vehicle's
underbody. There's no magic
cleaning solution that will
get rid of the corrosive
salt build-up for those who
live in heavy winter urban
areas. The best tool is a
high-pressure sprayer. Pay
special attention to the
area around the front and
rear bumpers.
Rust Check
Once you've thoroughly
sprayed the underbody, check
for signs of embryonic rust
(small pits and bubbles) and
take the necessary steps to
stop any small rust spots
from eating away at your
vehicle. We've all seen
those pillars of snow that
form around bumpers and
wheel wells. That's the most
likely place for road salt
to begin the erosion
process. While you're at it,
you might as well wash the
whole car. Winter is not
conducive to leisurely
afternoons spent hosing off
your vehicle and chances are
it's been a while.
Brakes
Examine your brakes. Like
wipers, brakes take on a
bigger role during
wintertime and should be
checked to ensure that
they've survived. Listen for
brake noises such as
grinding, chatter or
squeals. Even if your brakes
aren't making any
distinctive noises, it's
still a good idea to
determine the amount of wear
on the pads or drums, either
by you or your mechanic. We
often become accustom to the
feel of worn brakes, without
realizing what we're used to
is a deteriorated ability to
stop.
 Fluids
Check all automotive fluids
and top off as necessary.
Winter driving conditions
require your engine to work
harder and deplete fluid
levels faster. Some heavy
winter drivers change their
oil, opting for a thinner
weight. Once you feel
certain you've seen the last
of consistently low
temperatures, change back to
an oil weight such as 10W/30
(or whatever is recommended
in the owners' manual),
formulated for warmer
temperatures.
Interior
Go over your vehicle
interior with a fine-tooth
comb. This includes taking
out and washing floor
liners. Even if you have
those nifty, heavy-duty
liners, the volume of melted
snow that gets tracked into
vehicles can often overwhelm
even the sturdiest mats.
Vacuum and clean the
carpets, making sure they
are bone dry before you put
the liners back in. Since
most of us tend to scurry
out of the protection of a
warm car into the protection
of a warm building without
taking time to tidy up,
there's usually an extra
build-up of litter hiding
under the seats. Go over
interior vinyl with a
protective dressing. Car
heaters can be as damaging
and drying to vinyl as
mid-summer sun.
Congratulations! You and
your vehicle have survived
another winter. You can now
look forward to months of
warm temperatures and
snow-free landscapes. Of
course, you'll soon have to
be preparing for that long
hot summer, but that's
another story.
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