As we bid farewell to the cold winter months and await the warmer months of spring, you may have plans for an epic road trip or just enjoying the warmth in your own backyard. Either way, this is also the time to consider some vehicle maintenance to get your car back in top shape after the long winter. 

Below, we cover a wide range of car maintenance tips to prepare for springtime, ranging from swapping out the wiper blades to performing a coolant exchange. 

Continue reading to learn all the springtime car maintenance you should consider. 

Springtime Car Maintenance

When springtime rolls around, there's a handful of maintenance items you'll need to tackle in preparation for the warmer weather. Here are 10 springtime maintenance tips to consider for your car.

1. Windshield Wiper Blades

Your windshield wiper blades are tired after the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. The rubber has likely become stiff and cannot properly wipe the water away. This results in streaking in the rain, and springtime is when you'll start seeing significant rainfall. 

So, as the weather breaks and winter cedes its position to spring, you'll want to consider swapping out those old wiper blades. 

2. Battery Check

Your car battery goes through a lot of stress in the bitter-cold temperatures of the Canadian winter. The cold not only makes it work harder to start the engine due to the engine oil thickening in the cold weather, but it also causes the electrochemical reactions in your battery, weakening it. Come springtime, your car battery could be on its way out. 

Have the battery tested as the warm weather arrives to ensure it's ready for another season of starting your vehicle. 

3. Tire Swap

During the snowy and cold winter months, you likely installed your winter tires to handle all the snow and ice on the road and comply with local laws. These tires are formulated for cold weather, and running them in the springtime can cause excessive wear. Now's the time to swap out those winter tires in favour of your summer or all-season tires. 

Don't forget to check and adjust your tire pressure as needed. 

4. Coolant Exchange

Check the "Maintenance" section of your owner's manual to see when your next coolant exchange is due. If the due date is close, it's best to do it before the warmer months come and put extra stress on your vehicle's cooling system. 

Generally, automakers will recommend doing this once every 30,000-60,000 miles. 

Have your entire cooling system checked during this service, including the hoses and radiator, for potential issues. 

5. Brake Fluid

Your vehicle's brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. This water can cause corrosion in the braking system and can reduce the fluid's boiling point, resulting in the heat from braking causing it to boil. This boiling can damage seals and other components. 

Around springtime is a great opportunity to have your brake fluid checked for water retention. If it fails the test, replace it to keep your braking system in top shape. 

6. Oil Change

Check your owner's manual's "Maintenance" section and see if it's about time for your next oil change. If it's coming soon, there's no better time for an engine oil and oil filter change than at the change of the season. This gets fresh oil in your vehicle to handle the warm spring months. 

Also, some car owners like to alternate oil weights between the seasons by running a lower-weight oil in the winter to help with lubrication on cold starts and a thicker oil in the spring. When the weather breaks, this is the time to make that swap. 

7. Undercarriage Cleaning

In the wintertime, Canadian roads are covered with road salt to help melt the ice. This salt accelerates the corrosion of the metal on your vehicle if left in place. Once the weather breaks, this is the perfect time to pressure wash the entire undercarriage to wash away all this road salt and other grime, so your vehicle doesn't rust. 

8. Cabin Air Filter

Your vehicle's cabin air filter removes all the dirt and allergens from the air before entering the cabin via the heating and air-conditioning system. Over time, this filter can become clogged and begin to smell bad or reduce the airflow from the heating and air-conditioning system. Replacing this filter ensures your air-conditioning system is ready for those warmer spring months. 

If your filter isn't clogged, still check your owner's manual to see the recommended interval to change it. If it's about due but doesn't appear dirty or clogged, it's still a good idea to change it.

9. Engine Air Filter

Your engine air filter is responsible for filtering out all the dirt and other particles before the air enters the engine. Over time, this filter can become clogged, reducing the airflow to the engine, potentially affecting engine performance and fuel economy. 

In the winter, the road salt can get kicked up by vehicles in front of you and get sucked into this filter, clogging it. Changing this filter in the springtime will help ensure your engine is at its optimal performance for the warmer months.  

10. All-Around Spring Cleaning

After a long winter, when the temperatures were likely too cold to wash your car, it's probably got a nice layer of dirt on it. With the warmer weather coming, this is a great time to plan a full spring cleaning. At the very least, it's time to wash and wax the exterior and clean and shampoo the interior. 

Depending on how long it's been since you had a full detail, you may even want to hire a car detailer to come out to buff and clay bar your vehicle to make it look new again. 

How About a Quality Pre-Owned Vehicle to Kick off Springtime?

Instead of freshening your car up for spring, you can opt for a quality pre-owned vehicle from Clutch, Canada's first-ever 100% online auto retailer. All our vehicles undergo a 210-point inspection and reconditioning process that includes all the spring car maintenance tips listed above. 

On top of this, we include a 90-day or 6,000-km warranty on every vehicle we sell. We also offer a 10-day or 750-km test-own period. If you don't love your new Clutch vehicle for any reason at all, you can exchange it for a replacement or return it for a full refund. 

Check out our wide selection of quality pre-owned vehicles and choose the one that suits you. You can complete most of the purchase paperwork online, then we'll deliver the vehicle to you, finalize some paperwork, and even pick up your trade-in vehicle if you have one. It's that easy, and you never have to set foot in a car dealership.