Whether you’re dropping the little ones off around town or your older student is taking the car to college, the back-to-school season can be a nerve-racking experience. With so much focus on academics and scheduling, vehicle maintenance often gets overlooked. The fact is that the back-to-school season is a great time to have your vehicle serviced. Doing so will help avoid breakdowns and keep your day-to-day activities running smoothly.
Here are six car care maintenance tips for the back-to-school season.
Check Oil and Fluid Levels
Your car could use a proper refresh after a hot summer. If your engine oil is dirty, schedule an oil change, and make sure that your fluid levels are topped-off, including the transmission, brake, power steering, and wiper fluid. While at it, inspect the wiper blades and replace them if the rubber shows signs of wear.
Change Out Dirty Filters
We can inspect and change your dirty air and cabin air filters during the same visit as your oil change or other scheduled services. Clean filters are essential for keeping your vehicle operating at peak performance.
Inspect All The Lights Around The Car
This includes the headlights, brake lights, turn signals, tail lights, parking lights, and hazards. It’s easy for burned-out bulbs to go unnoticed when inside the car, so be sure to perform a once-around of your vehicle with all the lights turned on and replace the burned-out bulbs.
Check Tire Pressure and Wear
You’re going to be on the road a lot more, and the tires are what keep your vehicle connected with the road. Ensure they are in working condition and confirm that they are correctly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. If you aren’t sure what your vehicle’s specifications are, bring it to our shop, and we will happily inflate your tires!
Check also for signs of tire wear. Never drive on bald tires! Instead, have one of our professionals inspect your tires and suggest the perfect set of replacement tires for your driving needs.
First Aid Kit and Emergency Roadside Kit
This back-to-school car care maintenance tip is especially important for kids heading off to college who may be making their first solo road trip. A well-stocked first-aid kit of bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and scissors will go a long way.
It’s also a good idea to have an emergency roadside kit in case of breakdowns. This should include jumper cables, reflectors, road flares, a flashlight with batteries, and a tire pressure gauge. Be sure also to have a few extra phone charging cables within your car.
Schedule Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection with McCullough NAPA
McCullough NAPA Auto Care wants to make your back-to-school car care maintenance as stress-free as possible. That is why we offer complimentary multi-point inspections for your vehicle with any scheduled service. During the same visit as your scheduled service, our technicians can inspect the crucial areas of your car to see how those components are holding up. We’ll make recommendations for service if we see something wrong, and we will never suggest a service that you don’t need.