9 Complete Car Care Tips For Fall

As the weather cools down and the leaves start to change, now is the perfect time to give your car a little TLC. Like your HVAC system and your wardrobe, your car needs to be prepared for the changing seasons. By taking a few precautionary steps now, you can avoid problems down the road and keep your vehicle running smoothly all season long. Here are 9 tips to get you started:

Check and Replace Filters

We say it every few months: check and replace your filters.?Cabin air filters trap pollutants such as dust, pollen, and mold spores, preventing them from entering your vehicle's cabin. Over time, however, cabin air filters can become clogged with pollution, making them less effective at trapping contaminants. Additionally, a dirty cabin air filter can negatively impact your vehicle's performance and fuel economy. For these reasons, replacing your cabin air filter must be replaced once fall arrives. Not only will this help to ensure the quality of the air you're breathing, but it will also help to keep your car running smoothly.

The engine air filter should be replaced regularly to ensure the engine stays clean, and fall is a perfect time to do so. Cabin and engine air filters should be replaced between every?15,000 and 30,000 miles. Symptoms of a failing air filter include a decline in performance and fuel economy, so regular maintenance helps keep your vehicle running smoother, cleaner, more efficient, and?much longer.?

Check Your Tires?

We can’t over-emphasize the importance of good tires. We’ve mentioned using?Abe’s Head trick?before to measure the life of your tires, but we’re not just talking about tread wear. Check the manufacture date on your tires, too. The last four digits next to your DOT code indicate the week, and year your tire was manufactured. In the example above, 3419 means the 34th week of 2019. Tires five years old or older are due for replacement as the rubber compounds deteriorate and dry-rot over time.?

Keeping tires with good tread life, under five years old, and adequately equipped for the season ahead, like?all-season or winter?tires, will not only improve your driving experience but can drastically reduce the risk of an accident in wet or wintery weather.?

As the temperature starts to drop, so does the air pressure in your tires. That's why it's essential to check your tires regularly and inflate them as needed. Cold weather can also cause the rubber in your tires to harden, making them more susceptible to flats and blowouts. To avoid any unwanted surprises, it's a good idea to invest in a quality tire pressure gauge and keep it in your glove box. If you need your tires changed, skip the shop and get them changed at your convenience! With?Spiffy Tires, you can schedule, rate, and pay for a tire replacement with the?Spiffy app!?

Clean and Disinfect Your Cabin

For the same reasons that you should replace your cabin air filter, it’s even more vital to sanitize your vehicle’s commonly touched surfaces. As the weather cools and we spend more time indoors, it's essential to take extra care to prevent the spread of illness. Germs can quickly spread through shared spaces, and cold and flu season is just around the corner. One way to help protect yourself and your loved ones is to?disinfect your vehicle?regularly.?

Spiffy's disinfectant spray is 99.999% effective against bacteria and viruses and lasts up to seven days after application, so you can rest assured that your car is safe and clean. Make Spiffy part of your regular cleaning routine by booking interior detail and upgrading with a complete?disinfectant service?online or through the Spiffy app to enjoy peace of mind all season long.

Restore Your Headlights

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, it's important to make sure your car's?headlights?are in tip-top shape. After all, you don't want to be caught in a dark, gloomy night with dim, cloudy headlights. As oxidation and dirt build on your headlight lenses throughout the year, they begin to yellow. This causes a loss in your bulbs’ effectiveness, even if your bulbs are brand new and functioning well. Poor visibility can lead to accidents, so it's crucial that you take the time to restore your headlights to their original condition.?

Headlight restoration?is a simple and affordable process that can significantly improve your driving visibility. Spiffy offers a headlight restoration service that uses a three-step process to clean and polish your headlights that’s guaranteed for six months, so you can be confident that your headlights will improve your visibility on those dark, rainy nights. Our headlight restoration service also makes your car look spiffier than ever, so your car will maintain that Spiffy Clean look all season long.

Replace Your Wiper Blades

Fall weather can also be tough on your windshield wipers. Between the rain, sleet, and snow, they get quite a workout. Since wipers are constantly exposed to the elements, it's not surprising that they sometimes need to be replaced. Fortunately, replacing your wipers is a reasonably simple and inexpensive task that anyone can do. Just make sure to buy the correct size blades for your car and follow the instructions on the package. Once you've replaced your wipers, you'll be able to drive worry-free all season long.

Like spring, the fall season often brings more rain and moisture as the days cool down, and hurricane season runs the last of its course. With Winter just around the corner, potentially bringing frozen precipitation, it’s best to get ahead of the curve with?new wiper blades?to ensure the highest visibility possible when driving through wet conditions.?

Just replaced your wipers? Take it a step further with?Spiffy’s Rain Repellant Upgrade?powered by Simoniz??VisionBlade to increase your visibility even in the rainiest conditions.

Get an Oil Change?

Fall is the perfect time to schedule an oil change. Not only will it help your engine run more efficiently, but it will also help extend the life of your vehicle. Routine oil and filter changes remove particles and sludge that can build up over time and keep engines in peak condition. In addition, fresh oil helps to improve gas mileage. Our high-performance oil lasts up to 2x longer than traditional conventional oil, so you can spend less time with your mechanic and more time doing what you love. Schedule an oil change this fall if you're looking to save money and keep your car running like new.?There's no need to go to a dealership or service center;?Spiffy's Mobile Oil Change Service?comes to you and is conveniently?tailored to your schedule and location.?

Test Your Battery?

Cold weather can be tough on car batteries, so it's essential to ensure yours is up for the challenge before winter sets in. The easy way to do this is by taking it to a local auto parts store; most will test your battery for free. If it fails, have them install a new one—preferably one that's rated for cold weather operation.??

Service Your Brakes?

As the leaves begin to fall and the weather gets cooler, it's important to make sure your brakes are in good working condition. Brakes are subject to increased wear and tear in the fall and winter due to the increased moisture levels in the air, leading to reduced performance and making it harder to stop on slick roads. With?Spiffy's Mobile Brake Services, you can replace your brakes from the comfort of your home or office!?

One benefit of using Spiffy is that we are a one-stop vendor for preventative maintenance, so whether you need your oil changed, tires replaced, or brakes repaired — we've got you covered.?By getting your brakes serviced now, you can avoid the hassle of dealing with unexpected repairs in the middle of winter.?

It’s also important not to overlook?bleeding your brakes?at least once a year (more often if you live in an area with harsh winters) to prevent the corrosion and reduced performance caused by moisture from brake fluid.?If brakes aren’t bled and air bubbles are trapped within the brake fluid, hydraulic pressure is greatly reduced, making the brakes less efficient.

Fall For Spiffy

At Spiffy, we want to make sure your car is ready for anything the changing seasons may throw your way. From?ceramic coating?to headlight restoration, we offer a variety of upgrades to keep your car looking great and running smoothly all season long.?Schedule an appointment?with us today and let’s get your vehicle ready for fall!