Why Spring Maintenance is Important for Your Toyota

Your Toyota owner’s manual doesn’t know when or where you bought your car, so its maintenance intervals are based on miles. But the two most important maintenance intervals are seasonally based. Specifically, once in the fall to prepare for winter and another in spring to prepare for summer. 

The best venue for your spring maintenance is here at Valley Hi Toyota where our certified technicians, trained by Toyota, are familiar with your model and know just what to look for. Let’s discuss why spring maintenance is important. 

Oil and Oil Filter Change and Coolant Inspection

Motor oil has three jobs: lubricating, cooling, and cleaning. Cleaning and cooling cause oil to degrade over time, which in turn, reduces its lubricating effectiveness. So it is good to enter the valley summer with fresh oil and a new filter. At the same time, have your engine coolant level and condition examined since a warm front can come at any time. 

Battery Inspection

Cold temperatures slow down the chemical processes necessary for your battery to carry a charge, making your battery work harder. if your battery is a few years old, it may not spring back as the temperatures rise. You could have a battery failure in the spring, or summer could come from its endurance in the winter. Our service technicians can inspect your battery’s condition.

Checking Your Tires

Tire wear increases in high heat, so this is a good time to make sure all your tires have a tread depth greater than 5/32 inches and look for blisters, gouges, or any other damage that may become a problem in the heat. Also, potholes tend to form in the winter, so if your tires have literally fallen victim to them, our technicians will check and fix your alignment. 

Tires gain one to two pounds of air pressure for every ten-degree rise in ambient temperature, so it is good to make sure your tires are not overinflated. Remember to base your optimal pressure on the label in the driver’s door jamb and not the tires themselves.

Wiper Blades Inspection or Replacement

Dry weather really takes its toll on wiper blades making them less compliant and prone to streaking. Spring is a good time to inspect and possibly replace them. Night-summer driving seemingly turns your windshield into a bug magnet, so it is good both to have your wipers in top shape and your washer reservoir full. 

Brake Inspection

As important as brakes are any time of the year, you may use them harder in the summer. High heat reduces brake friction causing you to apply more pressure. People tend to speed more in the summer due to a higher comfort level. Plus, school is out, with young inexperienced drivers spending more of their time on the road and having fun. All this adds to spring being a good time to have everything in your brake system looked at, including pads, discs, lines, fluid, related electrical components, and sensors.

The Often Overlooked Cabin Filter 

Spring is prime allergy season. Cabin filters exist in part to help prevent allergens from flowing through the car. If you haven’t changed out your cabin filter in a while, a new one may make you feel entirely refreshed inside. Our service technicians know just where the filter is and how to replace it.

Other Routine Inspections

A spring maintenance check will inspect other areas that need to be looked at from time to time, regardless of the climate. This includes headlight alignment, sweeping leaves, and other debris from the exterior vents and the engine compartment. It is also important to verify that fluid drains aren’t clogged, causing a pooling of water and potential rust. Again, there is no one more qualified in this area to perform all these tasks on your Toyota than Valley Hi Toyota. Give us a call to make your spring maintenance appointment and optimize your car for the summer ahead. 

Tags: informative, Inspections, Maintenance, Spring, Toyota
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