What Can You Do to Prepare Your Car for Fall?

Fall has already arrived, but if you’ve been putting off some of your vehicle maintenance, you might not be fully prepared for the changing weather. While Chino may not get the same degree of changing weather in the fall and winter that other parts of the country do, you can still expect the temperature to cool off and the weather to get just a bit damper throughout the fall and winter months.

With that in mind, here are just a few simple steps you can take to stay on top of your car maintenance in the fall in Chino, CA.

Check all your fluids

The changing of the seasons is a good time for you to check all of your fluid levels and top them off as needed. Even if the fluid is at the proper level, it’s also important to check and make sure it’s clean. As temperatures begin to fall, the fluids will become a bit thicker, which might make them move a bit slower through the engine. While you likely won’t experience any extreme temperatures over the winter months (unless you go on a road trip somewhere), it’s still important to make sure your vehicle is running with good-quality fluids.

Which fluids are we talking about? Oil is obviously the most important—regardless of the temperature, oil has a limited lifespan in a vehicle and should be changed at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer. You should also make sure you have enough coolant (and that you keep it mixed to the proper proportions), and that your brake fluid and transmission fluid are at the proper levels as well. Finally, do a quick check of your windshield wiper fluid—you may need it more frequently in the fall and winter.

Check your tires

Your tires are all that stand between your vehicle and the road. You should occasionally check the condition of your tires to see if there’s any damage to the sidewall, or if there’s any noticeable bulging. You should also make sure your tires have enough tread on them. If the tread is less than 1/16 of an inch, then it will not be safe to drive on. You can use the penny test to easily determine if you have enough tread left on your tires. Simply insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside-down, and check to see if you can still see all of Lincoln’s head. If so, you need to replace that tire.

Check your wiper blades

Chino doesn’t see as much precipitation as other parts of the country, but it’s still important to check your wiper blades on occasion. Even if you didn’t experience a lot of rain over the last season, the hot, dry weather can actually make them wear down faster. If you have issues with your wipers leaving behind streaks or moisture, or if they make annoying sounds while moving across the windshield, it’s time to replace them.

For more information about fall car care in Chino, CA, contact the mechanics at Gabriel’s Automotive & Towing today.

Categorised in: Auto Repair

This post was written by Writer