Seasonal Car Care: 8 Fall Car Maintenance Tips

When the seasons change, it’s a good idea to run through your list of simple car maintenance tips to ensure that your fleet is ready for the changing weather. This is especially true when summer fades to fall, since the crisp weather and falling leaves can lead to a host of new threats to your vehicle’s beauty and performance. Here are a few simple things you can do to ensure that it transitions with ease.

1. Prep Your Cover – If you plan to store your car for the season or keep it outdoors and want an extra layer of protection against the elements, now’s the time to invest in a good car cover. We always recommend giving your cover a thorough clean before putting it back on your vehicle at the beginning of the season, to ensure that no lingering dirt or dust damages the surface.

Shop Our Entire Selection of Car Covers

1. Do a Deep Clean – Forget spring cleaning! For many of us, fall’s the best time to get down and dirty with the Shop-Vac and detailing tools. As you probably already know, regularly washing your car can help prevent rust from forming, and rust tends to form at an accelerated pace in the cold weather when there’s lots of salt, snow, and grime on the roads. Start with a clean slate so maintenance is easier throughout the fall and winter months.
2. Finish with a Wax – Car wax is designed to help preserve the surface of your car and safeguard paint from harsh environmental factors that worsen in the winter, including dreaded road salt. Waxing in the fall is also a smart idea because it helps limit damage by creating a buffer between the paint and the elements.
3. Replace Your Wipers – Unfortunately, those sunny days will be fewer and farther between as the weather chills, which means you’ve got to make a few key weather-related preparations. Fall is a great time to swap out your wipers for a brand-new pair to ensure that they’re ready for the sleet and snow coming your way. This is also a great time to top off your windshield wiper fluid.

1. Run Your Heater and Defroster – If it has been months since you turned on your car’s heater or attempted to defrost the windows, you’ll want to give them a run-through before it gets really cold. On one of the first chilly days, get up early and run the heat and window defrost to make sure they work at their best when temperatures are below 50 degrees.
2. Get an Oil Change – You want to make sure you’re paying attention to your oil change schedule (see the little sticker on your windshield) to determine when you need to swap your oils. But getting on a fall and spring schedule is a great way to keep your car in tip-top shape during those harsher months. In addition to replacing the oil, your oil change mechanics will perform plenty of tasks that are important for winter prep, including changing the filters and checking the tires.
3. Do a Full Tire Inspection – It’s important to prepare your tires for the icy roads before things get too slick, which is why you need to commit to an annual fall tire inspection. Bald, worn-out tires are especially dangerous in the winter because they don’t have the tread needed to “grip” slick roads. At the same time, your tires naturally lose tire pressure when the temperature drops, which can cause increased braking time, increased risk of skidding, and reduced gas mileage. Be sure to prep your tires for winter before that very first snowfall!

1. Check and Stock Your Emergency Kit – Last but not least, the fall is a great time to perform your annual car emergency kit inspection. Make sure your emergency flashlight and backup batteries work properly and that your jumper cables and flares are ready to be deployed if necessary. You may also want to toss in a pair of emergency gloves and a spare blanket just in case.

Whether it’s a Polaris snowmobile cover or seasonal car maintenance tips, CarCovers.com has everything you need to ready your fleet for the winter. Follow these suggestions to ensure that your ride is safe and ready for the most extreme months of the year.