April is National Car Care Month! With winter ending and the start of spring, we have to take a different approach on car care. If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here’s six simple tips to help you care for your vehicle now that spring is here!

Wash and Wax

A proper, through wash and wax is the first and most important thing to do with your car once winter is over. Winter driving causes a lot of road grime, debris and even salt to build up on your car. You want to make sure you get rid of it all before spring starts. Allowing debris and grime to pile on your car can affect its paint and finish. Even worse, allowing salt to build up can lead to rust and other serious problems.

Inspect Your Wiper Blades

Inspect your wiper blades for any cracking or wear and tear. The wipers can wear out a lot over the winter due to ice buildup or other cold temperature related issues on your windshield. You’ll need those wipers for rainy days in the spring, so make sure they’re working fine now that winter is over.

Check Your Tire Pressures

Being aware of the pressure in your tires is very essential during the spring because of the change in air pressure. Colder weather decreases the pressure in your tires. This is most likely why you had to fill up your tires at the beginning of winter. Tire air pressure increases as the outside temperature goes up. If the pressure increases past your manufacturer specification, it can intrude in your car’s ability to drive and affect the fuel economy. Checking your tire pressures is a very significant part of car care, so if you don’t feel at ease checking your car’s tire pressure on your own, bring your car to Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. We would be more than happy to assist you!

Clean the Inside

It’s not easy trying to make the time and effort to clean out your car when it’s cold outside. Now that it’s getting warm, it’s a great chance to clean that interior. Make some time one day do some spring cleaning. Eliminate and throw away all the paper, trash and random items that has accumulated over the cold weeks and months. Not only will you have a clean and more space in your car, but your spring cleaning can be done under better weather conditions, especially necessary if you have to vacuum those carpets and seats.

Check Alignment and Suspension

Winter is known for being harsh on roads, resulting in your vehicle going through some harsh times. If you find yourself frequently crossing roads with huge potholes or rocks that have arose from the asphalt, it could ruin your car’s alignment or damage suspension components. Get an alignment check to make sure everything is good to go.

Check Under the Hood

Get a good look under your hood to make sure your car’s engine survived the winter without any disturbances. Definitely check belts and hoses to make sure the low temperatures didn’t make them coarse or wear them out. Check your coolant and be sure that it’s not too old, as it is an important factor to prevent your car from overheating as temperatures are going up. If you aren’t comfortable doing these on your own, come to Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. Every Mercedes-Benz certified mechanic has been specially trained to our own high standards. Get your Mercedes-Benz serviced at the hands of the best certified mechanics.