APRIL IS NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH

Why is National Car Care Month in April? As winter comes to an end, it’s important to get your vehicle ready for the warmer weather and summer road trips to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula! This is especially important in West Michigan as we tend to experience mild to severe winters. It’s important to make sure that your brakes, tires, and windshield wipers are ready for the inevitable April showers and take care of any issues that may have occurred during the winter. 

We’ve put together some Spring Car Care tips to help extend the life of your vehicle and get it ready for summer travel!

1. Check/replace your tires: It’s time to shed those winter tires and throw on some all seasons! Be sure to inspect your tire’s tread, look for any damage from potholes, and check your tire pressure. Your tire pressure can change when we experience extreme shifts in temperature. The wintery roads and potholes on city roads can cause damage to your tires.
2. Change your oil: Be sure to change your oil and filter to prevent any build up in your engine! It’s also important to make sure that your engine is properly lubricated. Moving parts in the engine create friction and it is important to keep them lubricated so that your engine doesn’t overheat, especially as the weather gets warmer! 
3. Check/replace fluids: Be sure to check your wiper, brake, and transmission fluid this spring. It’s especially important to check your coolant levels after winter since the fluid will be working double-time to keep your vehicle from overheating in the summer! 
4. Check brakes: Wintery, snowy, and icy road conditions throughout Grand Rapids’ winters in combination with the salt, there can be plenty of wear and tear on your vehicle and your brakes. Driving on worn brakes is dangerous, especially on wet pavement. Make sure that your pads and rotors are up to the challenge. 
5. Check windshield wipers: April showers bring May flowers! Winter conditions can leave your blades chipped, bent, or missing chunks of rubber. Worn blades can leave smears or streaks across your windshield, reducing visibility. It’s important to check to make sure that your wiper blades are in good condition to keep your windshield clear. 
6. Check battery: While cold West Michigan winters can drain your battery, warm temperatures can accelerate corrosion inside your battery as well as cause water to evaporate out of the battery, leading to shorter battery life. At Berger, we offer FREE battery testing, if your battery is under your hood! We will check your battery’s charge and check for loose connections or corrosion. 
7. Replace your air filter: Springtime allergies are the worst! Why not make sure your air filter isn’t making it worse? Replacing your air filter will help keep the inside of your vehicle free from springtime irritants like dust and pollen, plus, it can help boost your gas mileage!
8. Check HVAC system: Warm weather will be here soon and you don’t want to face it without A/C! An HVAC system check will ensure that you stay cool all spring and summer long!

Michigan winters can wreak havoc on your vehicle, that’s why spring is the perfect time to get your vehicle’s preventive maintenance routine in gear. Annual inspections and proper maintenance are important in order to avoid bigger issues down the road. Luckily, we can help! Schedule your appointment online or drop by our Quick Service Lanes (no appointment necessary) to have one of our Certified Service Experts get your vehicle ready for your next road trip! Now is the time! After all, it’s National Car Care Month! 

Cabin Air Filter Change