Empire Covers Blog

Although we all love to have a clean and shiny looking car on the outside, it’s important not to forget to clean and maintain the inside of your car as well. Spring is a great time of year to check up on your car to make sure it’s working properly and running well. Winter can take a toll on your car, especially if you live in an area with snow, ice, and road salt. Now that spring is finally here and your car has had a chance to thaw, it’s time to pop the hood and get your (or a mechanic’s) hands dirty. Make sure your car is up to speed this spring by taking the following steps.

Check your tire pressure. When the temperature changes in the spring, the pressure of your tires will decrease. Proper tire pressure is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and significant cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Check your car’s manual or with the manufacturer to see what your optimum tire pressure should be.

Get an oil change. It’s recommended that every 3,000 miles you drive or every three months, you should get an oil change. This helps prevent sludge from building up in your engine and clogging it. Automotive repair shops and mechanics offer this service, but it’s easy enough for someone to do it on their own. Since you probably own a car, you understand this process very well. Spring is a good time to do it as your engine has taken a beating from the harsh winter conditions.

Flush and refill the cooling system. This increases your vehicle’s life expectancy and fuel efficiency, especially during the hot summer. It’s a good idea to check the condition and concentration of the coolant to make sure it’s up to standards. Also, replace your air filter in preparation for the summer heat use of your car’s air conditioner.

Some other things you can do include lubricating locks and hinges and inspecting underneath your car for winter damage. Use a petroleum-based lubricant on door and trunk hinges to fix any creaking that may have developed during the winter. When checking under your car, look for suspicious areas and have them fix immediately. Also, take a look at your brakes for sticky calipers or corroded brake line and your exhaust system for rusted clamps, crumpling tailpipes, or holes forming in the muffler.

Spring cleaning can be a tedious task, but it can significantly increase the life of your vehicle and make your car a lot safer to drive. Preventive care is always safer and more cost efficient since you will be catching things before they become an issue. As always, Empirecovers.com is here for you and your car. Check our site for new products and promotions to get your car in shape this spring.

Winter can be a wonderful time filled with holiday cheer and snowflakes. It can also be extremely harsh. Plants, humans, animals, and even cars feel the brunt of winter furry. Although it may not seem like it, Old Man Winter can be incredibly cruel to your vehicle. Aside from ice build up, fluids and hoses can freeze up, not to mention those cold leather seats at 7 am! There are a few precautions one can take in order to help prevent the damage that winter can do.

Most importantly, buy yourself a high quality, weatherproof car cover. We recommend the Empire Waterproof or the Max cover. Both of these car covers have high water resistance to block out snow and ice. (Note: In unusual circumstances, a layer of ice may form between your vehicle and the cover. This layer of ice must be thawed before removing your cover. You may expedite this process by pouring warm water over the cover and gently lifting it as the ice begins to melt. If any resistance occurs, repeat the process.) The cover can also be protected against wind by installing grommets that come with it. By tying it down, you can keep fierce winter winds from blowing your cover off.

Secondly, make sure your car is in working condition before winter sets in. A broken down car on the freeway in 30 below is never a pleasant experience. Also, be sure to ask your mechanic to flush your cooling system and replace the coolant. If you want to do this yourself, aim for a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water inside the radiator. This way the mixture won’t freeze in cold temperatures. The cooling system not only works to keep your engine from over-heating in the summer, but it works to protect the engine against corrosion.

Making sure you can see should be a top priority to ensure safety. Replacing your windshield wiper blades is an easy way to improve your visibility on the road. Experts recommend that you change them once a year. Also, make sure your wiper fluid is full and to make sure your windshield doesn’t build up ice during a storm, try adding some antifreeze.

Get your oil changed. The oil in your engine will change depending on how hot or how cold the engine is running. Due to the fact that outside temperatures will have an effect on the internal temperature of the engine, be sure you have oil that will hold up when it is cold outside. A mechanic or your owner’s manual may recommend using a thinner, less viscous oil in the cold months.

When was the last time your checked the pressure of your tires? It’s extremely important because the traction on the tires keep you from sliding on frozen winter roads. Traction can be vulnerable in wet, icy, or snowy weather. In colder weather, the air in tires decrease, making you more susceptible to sliding on the road. Check your owner’s manual for target tire pressures.

These precautions are important to preventing damage and ensuring safety on the road, but the most important thing you can do is drive safely. Slow down and be aware of everyone on the road. Don’t let the weather bog you down this winter, take these steps to ensure you and your car’s safety.