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Timely Reminders: Make Car Maintenance An Annual Spring Ritual

(ARA) - As regularly as the robins arrive in spring, Americans turn millions of clocks ahead and check the batteries on their smoke detectors when daylight-saving time rolls around. The annual spring ritual also represents the perfect time for car owners to take a few steps that will help keep their cars running smoothly through long summer vacations and rush-hour traffic on 90-degree days.

Spring is also an ideal time to correct nagging problems left over from winter. Warm weather can wreak havoc on a car’s cooling and electrical systems, so make sure that the following are essential parts of any spring maintenance program:

Oil change -- Never exceed your manufacturers’ interval for this type of service -- most drivers should change their oil every three months or 3,000 miles. Warm weather might be the perfect time to try synthetic oil, such as Castrol Syntec, for added protection. As engine temperatures increase, motor oils thin out, causing metal surfaces to come closer together and increasing metal-to-metal contact. Synthetic motor oil offers superior protection from higher temperatures with unsurpassed wear protection and better defense against potentially harmful engine deposits.
Tires -- Check your owner's manual, but AAA recommends having tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Take your car to a certified technician to have the tires rotated. Ask to have the alignment checked as well. Also check the pressure in your tires regularly. The pressure embossed on the sidewall of your tire is the maximum pressure, not necessarily the correct pressure for your vehicle. Find your manufacturer’s recommendation on a sticker in your front door jamb or in your owner’s manual.
Coolant -- Have your coolant level and the antifreeze/water mixture in the radiator checked.
Wiper blades -- Scrutinize your windshield wiper blades whenever you fuel your car. If the rubber is ragged or brittle, replace them. AAA recommends replacing your wiper blades at least once per year. After all, you want to be able to see clearly when you are driving through one of those April showers or summertime thunderstorms. Don’t forget to check windshield washer fluid level.
Appearance -- If you live in the snow belt, your car has been assaulted all winter with slush, salt, sand and more. Give the entire car, top and bottom, a badly needed wash. Apply a solid coat or two of wax for protection from the bugs, birds, sun and rain of spring and summer.

So on DST day, turn the clocks ahead, check the smoke detector batteries and give the family car a little TLC.

Courtesy of ARA Content
For more information, please call (888) CASTROL or visit www.CastrolSYNTEC.com.