While most people are anxiously awaiting a weekend where they can wash, wax, and detail the interior of their ride, this is the perfect time to do some preventative maintenance to improve both performance and the lifespan of your vehicle.

No one wants a breakdown that could have been discovered early and prevented, so why not get the gunk out of your vehicle and give your vehicle a fresh start?

May is probably the best month to give your vehicle a spring check-up before the really hot, humid weather hits. Now that the snow and ice should be gone until the end of the year, you’ll want to give your car a thorough inspection, which should include:

Replacing Filters

Oil, fuel, cabin, and air filters are some of the first things you should consider changing. Unless your vehicle has recently been serviced, the oil is ready to be changed for a lighter summer blend and a new filter will keep your engine clear of contaminants that naturally occur in combustion engines.

The air filter should also be swapped out with a clean one. This improves the quality (and quantity if the filter is severely contaminated) of air that your engine receives. Easier breathing for your engine via a new air filter means not only improved performance but improved gas mileage.

The cabin air filter is also important, not for the motor, but for you and your passengers. The cabin air filter removes dust, allergens, dirt, leaves, and other contaminants that can enter the inside of your vehicle. When the cabin filter becomes very dirty, it not only can allow dust and allergens to enter the air you breathe, but it can limit the amount of airflow you get from the vents or the air conditioning.

Changing the fuel filter is also an excellent idea. As the name implies, this filter removes contaminants and prevents them from clogging and possibly even damaging your fuel injectors. Replacing the fuel filter is cheap insurance to guard against injector damage.

The pros at My Mechanic will inspect and replace all filters so that your vehicle is operating at its best.

A/C Inspect/Recharge

Regularly servicing your air conditing system can help it run more efficiently so that you can enjoy cleaner, cooler air and use less gas while doing so. Dirty condenser coils, leaking hoses, and other problems can cause your AC to not blow as cold as you like or to stop working right when you need it most.

The pros at My Mechanic will inspect the system for damage, check that the system is working properly, test your AC for leaks, and recharge the system as required.

Coolant Flush/Inspection

While it might be difficult to imagine a liquid wearing out, coolant does lose its ability to prevent freezing and overheating with time.

No one wants to be stranded with a broken hose, belt, or overheating vehicle. Having your cooling system inspected today means you won’t have to worry when you take your vacation later.

Our ASE-certified mechanics will inspect your cooling system for damage and leaks, then flush out the old coolant and replace it with clean, fresh coolant that was designed for your year, make, and model of vehicle.

Brake Fluid Flush/Inspection

The braking system on your vehicle uses a hydraulic fluid aptly called brake fluid. One of the problems with brake fluid is that it absorbs water from the air. Water does not compress as brake fluid does and it can allow rust and/or corrosion to form inside the braking system, which is not a good thing.

We will inspect the braking system on your vehicle, checking it for leaks and proper operation. The old, contaminated brake fluid will be removed and flushed completely clear before we add new fluid and bleed the air out of the system.

Everyone wants a car with a sound, good working brake system, and after the pros at My Mechanic inspect and clean the brakes of your car, you will feel safer while driving.

We will also be happy to inspect your tires, check the condition of your battery, and if your Check Engine light is on, we can diagnose and repair that issue as well so you can have your smog inspection performed without worries.

If You Have an Electric Vehicle

While some people believe that EVs don’t require maintenance, nothing is further from the truth. An EV might be low maintenance, but they still have systems that require inspection and servicing.

Your electric vehicle may not have oil to change or a cooling system to worry about, your vehicle still has a battery, a braking system, tires, a cabin filter, and an air conditioning system that should all be inspected, as well as the power steering, half-shafts, and windshield wipers.

Better to be Safe Than Sorry

While no one can predict the future, one thing is certain; your vehicle is a finely tuned piece of machinery that requires maintenance if you want to avoid breakdowns, improve your fuel mileage, and extend the lifespan of your vehicle.

The strain that winter weather puts on your vehicle leaves it more susceptible to breakdowns or bigger repair bills if the smaller items, such as maintenance, are not taken care of promptly.

The post Spring Check-Up: Getting the Gunk Out appeared first on My Mechanic Inc. | Elmhurst - Clarendon Hills Auto Repair Experts.

So if you have ever wondered, “Do I need a coolant flush?,” the answer is “Yes!” This one preventive maintenance service is critical to your radiator, hoses, the water pump and the coolant passages in the engine block.

What is Coolant?

Coolant is a product that works in several ways. First, it prevents the engine from overheating and causing damage. It also contains antifreeze, so when the temperatures dip down, it protects the engine coolant from freezing. For many years, antifreeze or coolant was only checked for two things: Its freezing point and boiling point. But now, we also need to check the coolant for its anti-corrosive properties, which prevent parts like your radiator or water pump from rusting or corroding from the inside-out.

Do I Need a Coolant Flush?

As coolant gets older, it can become acidic. And acidic coolant can corrode aluminum engine components like your radiator, water pump, cylinder head, engine block and heater core. Once those parts corrode, it is a considerable expense to repair.

The photo in this article shows circular pits, like craters, that were caused by acidic coolant. This is the thermostat housing, and the pits are at the point where the radiator hose would connect to it.

Many years ago, your coolant or radiator fluid needed to be flushed every year. But since the mid-80s, most cars have come from the factory with “long-life” coolant, which means they sometimes can go for as many as 5 years without having the coolant flushed. This is just a rule of thumb, however, and at My Mechanic, we have test strips that measure the acidity and protection levels of the coolant in your car. We also use an optical refractor to test the boiling point and freezing point of your antifreeze. This ensures we don’t change the fluid too often or that we don’t wait too long in between service intervals.

Our Job at My Mechanic

When it’s time for a coolant flush, we first drain and flush the radiator with water. Then we fill the cooling system with NEW coolant using specialized equipment that not only fills the system, but also evacuates the air from the system. This is very important because if air is trapped, it can lead to overheating problems or it can cause the heating system to not work correctly. Trapped air can also cause a fluctuating temperature gauge.

Our Rule of Thumb for Radiator Hoses

As a general rule, we also recommend replacing the radiator hoses if your car is 8 years or older. In our experience, we typically see hoses starting to deteriorate at the 8-year mark.

Even if the hoses are not showing signs of leaking, bulging or cracking, the sheer age is enough to be a hazard. If you’re planning a road trip or are driving during extreme hot or cold temperatures, older hoses put you at risk for a breakdown. In the summer heat, for example, cooling systems build up a lot of pressure due to high temperatures, increasing the risk of a coolant hose failing. If that happens, you’ll likely end up at the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

Because new radiator hoses are relatively inexpensive, we believe it makes more sense to eliminate the risk.

Preventive Maintenance is Key to Keeping Your Vehicle Reliable

When it comes to extending the life of your car and reducing costly repairs, preventive maintenance is vital. At My Mechanic, we’re dedicated to keeping your vehicle well maintained and ensuring you and your family are safe when out on the road. If your vehicle is older and you’re not sure about the condition of your coolant or radiator hoses, we invite you in to have our expert technicians inspect them for you. Contact us today to ensure that everything under your hood is running smoothly and safely.

The post Do I Really Need a Coolant Flush? appeared first on My Mechanic Inc. | Elmhurst - Clarendon Hills Auto Repair Experts.