General Motors : April Can be the Cruelest Month – For Cars

GRAND BLANC, Mich. - Looking over your car in the spring is a lot like facing the mirror after a night of insomnia. Thank the winter of 2014-15, when few parts of the country were spared the snow, ice, frigid temps and, now - potholes - that sap strength from batteries and chew up suspensions.

April, which is spring car care month, is a good time to give your car a thorough vehicle checkup before the summer driving season, said Greg St. Aubin, who leads technician training for ACDelco, General Motors' original equipment and independent aftermarket parts brand.

"Many services are best left to the pros, while customers can do others themselves," he said.

Before you do anything, give your car a good spring bath.

"Regular car washes and waxes protect your car from corrosive debris. In parts of the country where salt is used on the roads, regular washing of the undercarriage is especially important," said Rich White, executive director of the nonprofit Car Care Council in Bethesda, Md.

Along with routine services like an oil and filter change, brake check and fresh wiper blades, ACDelco experts recommend the following:

Go with the pros:

• Oil change - Having the oil and oil filter changed, at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer, is likely to generate the single biggest return on your investment in routine auto service and maintenance. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. It's important to use the recommended grade of oil for your vehicle for the best protection and fuel mileage. See your vehicle owner's manual for the recommended oil change interval, or follow the oil-life monitoring system, if equipped.
• Spark plugs - Many are designed to last 100,000 miles, but they can get dirty or fail prematurely. Ignition wires lose insulating ability over time, and the connection to the plug or ignition coil can degrade. Having plugs checked and, if necessary, replaced, can improve vehicle performance and fuel economy
• Examine belts, clamps and hoses - Tighten or replace as necessary
• Replace worn or damaged suspension components like struts, shocks, tie rods and bushings, which take the brunt of spring potholes and bumpy gravel roads
• Test the battery - Heat can tax a battery as much as cold. Modern batteries are about more than cold cranking amps. ACDelco batteries also provide optimum reserve capacity - for all the electronic devices used in today's vehicles.

Do it yourself:

• Sunroof - Before opening it for the season, inspect weather strips and remove debris from drains before they leak into vehicle. Wipe the sunroof seal and roof sealing area with a clean cloth, mild soap and water
• Cabin air filter - Replace this filter to improve airflow through the interior climate control system and help remove pollen, allergens and stale odors. Most owner's manuals explain how to do it
• Radiator and condenser - Sand and salt can corrode and damage these elements, which are what you see through your vehicle's grille. With the engine off, use a garden hose (do NOT power wash) with medium spray or open flow to wash away dirt and salt. This simple step can improve engine cooling and air conditioning performance
• Child safety seats - Kids still grow under those winter jackets. Make sure you still have the right car seat by visiting www.safercar.gov/parents/Car-Seat-Safety.htm
• Spare tire - Not the one you're working off at the gym, but the one in your trunk. Make sure it's properly inflated and that you have a portable compressor, a jack and a tire iron in the event of a flat
• Download this - Check out the revised version of ACDelco's popular car care booklet, Knowledge is Power, a user-friendly resource that explains vehicle maintenance and takes the scare out of car care.

Locate the nearest ACDelco Professional Service Center by visiting www.acdelco.com and clicking on the "Find a Service Center" section.

ACDelco is the exclusive Original Equipment parts brand for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, as well as provider of premium aftermarket parts for most other makes and models. Other available applications include off-road, marine and industrial. With a century of history behind it and nearly 90,000 parts across 37 product lines, ACDelco is the preferred choice of professional technicians and do-it-yourselfers in more than 100 countries. To find an ACDelco Professional Service Center program participant or parts retailer, visit acdelco.com or call 1-800-ACDELCO. Find ACDelco on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

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