April is National Car Care Month, making it a useful reminder to give your vehicle some attention after the winter months. Cold temperatures, heavy rain, road salt, potholes and winter grime can all take their toll on a car, so spring is an ideal time to carry out a few essential maintenance checks.
You don’t need to be an experienced mechanic to give your car a useful spring health check. Cleaning the vehicle thoroughly, checking the tyres and wiper blades, reviewing fluid levels and keeping up with scheduled servicing can all help improve reliability, safety and potentially prevent more expensive problems later.
National Car Care Month may provide the reminder, but these are sensible maintenance habits throughout the year. Here are some practical checks you can make to help keep your car in good condition.
For more practical advice on servicing, repairs, running costs and keeping your vehicle in great condition, visit our maintenance guidance hub.
So, how can you celebrate National Car Care Month? Here are our top tips.
1. Clean Your Car
After months of winter weather, road salt, mud, leaves and grime can build up both inside and outside your car. Start by removing clutter from the cabin and boot, vacuuming the interior and wiping down the dashboard, trim and other surfaces.
Give the exterior a thorough wash too, paying particular attention to the wheel arches, wheels and lower sections of the bodywork where winter dirt and road salt can accumulate. Once clean, inspect the paintwork for stone chips, scratches or other damage that may have become more noticeable over winter.
A suitable wax or paint protection product can then help protect the finish while keeping the car looking its best. Don’t forget the windows, mirrors, lights and number plates — keeping these clean also helps visibility and ensures your car can be seen clearly by other road users.
Spring is also a good opportunity for a more thorough clean. Our guide to spring cleaning your car covers the job in more detail.
2. Check Your Oil and Service Schedule
Engine oil plays a vital role in lubricating and protecting the moving parts inside your engine. Over time it can become contaminated and less effective, which is why manufacturers specify oil-change intervals as part of the vehicle’s servicing schedule.
Start by checking your car’s oil level, following the procedure in the owner’s manual. If the level is low, use the correct specification of oil for your vehicle rather than simply adding whatever engine oil happens to be available.
If an oil change or service is due according to the manufacturer’s schedule, don’t put it off. Regular servicing using the correct oil and replacement filters can help reduce engine wear, maintain performance and identify developing problems before they become more expensive.
Spring is also a useful time to check other essential fluids, including coolant, brake fluid and screenwash. If you’re unsure about any fluid level, specification or maintenance requirement, check the vehicle handbook or have the car inspected professionally.
Keeping evidence of servicing and maintenance can be just as important as carrying out the work itself. Our Service History & Vehicle Records hub explains how to keep, organise and protect your car’s maintenance history.
3. Check Your Wiper Blades
Windscreen wipers work particularly hard through the winter, dealing with rain, frost, road spray and grime. By spring, worn blades may start smearing or leaving areas of the windscreen uncleared.
Inspect both front and rear wiper blades for cracking, splitting or deterioration. If they judder across the glass, leave streaks or no longer clear the windscreen effectively, it’s probably time to replace them.
While you’re checking the wipers, clean the windscreen thoroughly and make sure the screenwash reservoir is topped up with a suitable screenwash mixture. Check that the washer jets are working correctly and aimed at the windscreen rather than over the roof.
Good visibility is essential in every season, so worn wiper blades are a small maintenance job that’s worth dealing with promptly.
4. Check Your Tyre Pressure
Tyres are one of the most important safety components on your car, yet tyre pressure and condition can easily be overlooked between services.
Changes in temperature can affect tyre pressures, so spring is a sensible time to check all four tyres against the manufacturer’s recommended pressures. You’ll normally find the correct figures in the owner’s manual or on a label inside the driver’s door area or fuel-filler flap, depending on the vehicle.
Check pressures when the tyres are cold where possible, and don’t forget to inspect the tread and sidewalls at the same time. Look for cuts, bulges, cracking, uneven wear or anything embedded in the tyre that could indicate damage.
Incorrect pressures can affect handling, braking, tyre wear and fuel efficiency. Uneven wear can also sometimes point to issues such as incorrect wheel alignment or suspension problems that are worth investigating.
If you use seasonal tyres, spring may also be the appropriate time to switch from winter tyres, depending on the conditions and the type of tyres fitted to your vehicle.
For more information on tyres, budget tyres vs premium tyres, this is where you’ll find out more.
5. Check Your Brakes
Winter driving can be tough on braking components, particularly with wet roads, road salt and accumulated grime. Spring is a sensible opportunity to pay attention to any changes in how your brakes feel or sound.
Listen for unusual squealing, grinding or scraping noises and be aware of vibration, pulling to one side or a brake pedal that feels noticeably different from normal. A warning light on the dashboard should also be investigated rather than ignored.
You don’t need to dismantle anything yourself. If you suspect that the brake pads, discs or another part of the braking system may be worn or damaged, have the vehicle inspected by a qualified professional.
Catching brake wear early can help prevent further damage as well as ensuring one of your car’s most important safety systems continues to work properly.
Keep Looking After Your Car All Year Round
National Car Care Month is a useful reminder to give your vehicle some attention, but good maintenance shouldn’t be limited to April. Small, regular checks throughout the year can help you spot developing problems before they become more serious.
Keep on top of servicing in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule, regularly check tyres, lights and fluid levels, and pay attention to any new warning lights, noises or changes in the way the car drives.
It’s also worth keeping records of servicing, repairs and replacement parts as the years pass. A clear maintenance history can help you understand what work has already been completed and provide useful evidence of how the vehicle has been cared for.
Looking after a car doesn’t guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but preventative maintenance can improve reliability, help control running costs and keep the vehicle in better condition for longer.
Thinking About Your Car’s Value?
Regular maintenance can help keep your car in good condition, but if you’re considering selling or simply curious about its current value, it helps to know where you stand. Use jamjar’s free car valuation tool to get an estimate of what your car could be worth today.