It’s been a tough winter for Raleigh residents. Snow, ice, freezing rain, slush…we’ve seen just about everything a bad winter can bring to us. And while many of us may have thoroughly prepared our cars for the winter weather that’s been predicted, caring for our vehicles after the weather has hit is another story completely.

Tough, cold winter weather can wreak havoc on our cars, and it might not all be noticeable from the exterior. Now that the last big storm has passed, and we’re hopefully in the clear for warmer weather for a bit here in Raleigh, it’s time to care for our cars the way they deserve to be cared for. Post-winter weather care can be just as important as preventative care.

Get A Car Wash

Perhaps the most obvious post-winter car care tip is to take your vehicle to a reputable car wash to remove the salt buildup on the exterior. The salt that gets put down on the roads to help melt snow and ice can cause corrosion to your car’s underbody and even work its way through your paint job on the entire vehicle.

Get an exterior wash, and make sure you also have an underbody wash done. Check for any signs of rusting or corrosion, and make sure all salt buildup has been cleared from every exterior surface of your car.

Check Your Tire Pressure

The colder temperatures are likely to bring changes in your tire pressure. While many cars have gauges and lights to notify drivers of a change in tire pressure, not all do. As a precaution, after temperatures dip significantly, be sure to check the pressure on your tires and refill the air as necessary.

The cold air causes the air in tires to condense, resulting in lowered pressure. Be aware that this change can occur with any dip in temperatures, and make sure you are regularly checking and filling your tires to their recommended levels.

Change Out Snow Tires

Many people in preparing for snow and bad weather will put special snow tires on their cars that have extra traction. The problem with leaving these tires on your car for too long after it’s necessary, though, is that they can wear down not only the roads (the additional tracking on snow tires often come from small protruding spikes on the tires themselves), but they can also cause problems on your car.

It’s best to change out your snow tires as soon as warmer weather is predicted to continue. Switch back to your normal tires and keep the expensive snow tires safely stored for next winter.

Check Your Battery

After cold weather has passed, be sure you check the status of your battery. Cars not starting is one of the top problems you face when traveling in the winter, so post-winter battery care is important to keep your car running into the spring!

Take your vehicle to a maintenance center that you trust and have them check to make sure your battery is charging and working properly.

Replace Wiper Blades

The rubber on your windshield wiper blades can take a beating with all of the snow and ice they’re forced to remove from your windshield throughout the winter. Plus, the slush that’s kicked up from the road that lands on your windshield can corrode the rubber the same way it corrodes the paint on your car.

At the first signs of spring, check and have your windshield wipers replaced to ensure maximum visibility throughout the warmer (and often rainier) months.

Check Your Fluids

Winter weather makes your car have to work harder just to run correctly. That means your fluid levels go down much faster than usual. Some drivers even switch out the oil in their vehicles to thinner weights, so as soon as the temperatures start to warm back up, be sure to replace the thinner oil with a normal weight oil.

Have your mechanic check all fluid levels throughout your car to make sure they haven’t run too low throughout the winter. If they have, refill them to the normal recommended amount.

Clean Your Interiors

The interior of your car can take just as much of a beating as the exterior during the winter. All of the salt and slush that sticks to your shoes and boots gets tracked into your car and builds up on the mats and carpets.

Give the interior of your vehicle a thorough detailing after the winter weather has passed to keep up the quality of the fabrics inside the car.

With winter weather finally behind us, now is the perfect time to redeem the beauty and efficiency of your car. Remember that the winter weather can be tough on your vehicle, so care for it the way it needs. At Thompson Buick GMC Cadillac, our experts can assist you with any car maintenance needs you may have. So call our experts today – your car will thank you for it!