Seasonal Maintenance

Spring

Oil Change

Routine oil changes are some of the most important maintenance tasks your vehicle needs. Oil changes maintain engine health. When you don’t change the oil, impurities and debris cause the oil to thicken and turn into sludge. This sludge cannot effectively cool your engine and can potentially cause permanent damage.

Check your owner’s manual to see the recommended oil change schedule. Many modern vehicles have an interval that is longer than the standard 3,000-mile/3-month suggestion.

Tire Maintenance

Another important maintenance step is regular tire rotations. Tire rotations ensure your tires are wearing down evenly. Without routine tire rotations, the uneven wear on your tires will lead to sooner-than-necessary replacement.

Along with tire rotations, you should monitor the air pressure in your tires. Reinflate the tires when the air pressure drops. Do not overinflate your tires as this can cause unnecessary stress and wear.

HVAC Inspection

Before the heat of summer arrives, you need to get a thorough inspection of your HVAC system. You do not want to find yourself without air conditioning when the first heat wave hits. An HVAC inspection will look for damaged hoses, deterioration on the drive belt, and corrosion on the electric connectors. A technician will also check for any peculiar odors or contamination.

Engine Tune-Up

With an engine tune-up, a technician will inspect your engine and replace or repair any components that need it. A full comprehensive tune-up covers a wide range of vehicle parts:

• Spark plugs
• Ignition timing
• Engine air filter
• Fuel filter
• Throttle body
• Fuel system cleaning
• PCV valve
• Distributor cap

If you’re not sure if your vehicle needs a tune-up look for some signs. If you find it difficult to start the engine, accelerate seems more difficult, and your engine has a rough idle, a tune-up may be needed.

Battery Check

While it might not get too cold here in Texas, lower temperatures do make your car battery work harder. Have your battery checked to make sure it will last through the quickly approaching summer heat.

Brake Check

A brake inspection should be a part of your routine vehicle maintenance. This can be done easily at most routine service appointments. Technicians will check the thickness of your brake pads and the condition of the rotors. If you hear any squealing when you brake or your vehicle pulls to one side, get your brakes inspected.

Washing and Detailing

Washing your vehicle regularly not only keeps it looking great, but it can prevent damage to the paint. Some substances and road debris can damage the finish if left to sit for too long.

When washing your vehicle, make sure to work from the top down. Use soft cloths and multiple buckets to keep your wash water free from dirt particles. Follow up your wash with a fresh coat of wax. This protects the paint and makes your car look new again.

Along with the clean exterior, make your interior feel like new with a thorough detailing.

• Remove all the trash and the collection of junk that has gathered over the winter.
• Take out the floor mats and either spray them down or vacuum them.
• Wipe down the hard surfaces, paying careful attention to any electronic components.
• Clean the upholstery. If it is leather, use a leather cleaner. For fabric, treat any stains and thoroughly vacuum them when they have dried.
• Finish the detailing by vacuuming all the soft surfaces. Use vacuum attachments to reach underneath seats and in tight areas.
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Summer

Here in Texas, summer is often brutal. This is season when keeping up with routine maintenance will have the biggest payoff. Here are 4 summer maintenance tips you should not ignore:

Air Conditioning

If you plan to do any driving in Texas in the summer, you need a fully functioning air conditioner in your vehicle. If your AC seems to struggle getting cold, its not blowing cold air at all, or the air coming out has a strange smell, you should get your A/C inspected as soon as you can.

Oil And Filter

One of the primary roles of engine oil is to draw heat out of the moving parts in the engine. As the oil ages, this ability decreases. If you ignore your oil changes for too long, your engine could overheat and suffer serious damage.

Fluid Levels

Hot temperatures can cause certain fluids to start evaporating. Check the levels of critical fluids like power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield washer fluid.

Tire Pressure

While your vehicle may alert you when your tire pressure is low, you should make a habit of checking it routinely and adding more air, as needed.

Fall

As the temperatures start to cool down in the fall, Texas becomes a more hospitable place. It is a great time of year for long, scenic drives. To make sure your car is ready, pay attention to these 4 fall maintenance tips:

Windshield Wipers

With October being one of the rainiest months in Texas, you need to maintain your visibility. You should get a new set of windshield wiper blades every 6-12 months. If they are stuttering across the windshield or leaving streaks, it is time to replace them.

Brakes

Your brakes should be thoroughly checked at least twice a year. Many brake pads include a piece of metal that scratches against the brake rotor when the pads wear down too thin. If you hear a high-pitched squeal when braking, it might be time for new brake pads.

Lights

As the days get shorter, you will spend more time driving in the dark. Make sure all of your exterior lights work properly.

Heater

While fall temperatures tend to be mild in Texas, we do get some surprisingly cold nights every now and then. Make sure you’re prepared with a properly working heater.

Winter

One of the best things about living in Texas is missing out on most of the harsh winter weather. For the most part, our winters are mild. However, there are a still a few maintenance steps you should take to prepare your vehicle:

Tires

While you likely don’t need a full set of winter tires, you should make sure your tires are in good condition with adequate tread in addition to getting regular tire rotations.

Defrost System

We still have to deal with occasional frosty windows during the winter in Texas. Make sure the rear defrost in your car works properly along with the front defogger.

Water Drains

After the autumn leaves have fallen all over your car, there may be some small pieces of dry leaves that have made their way into the air plenum near the windshield or along the drain of the sunroof. Clean out these areas before you end up with puddles of water inside your vehicle.

Contact the Mitchell Buick GMC Service Department to schedule your vehicle’s seasonal maintenance appointment. That way, you can feel more confident and safe wherever the road takes you this summer.