6 Vehicle Maintenance Tasks You Should Do In The Fall

Winter has many challengers for drivers and their vehicles, which is why its so important to be prepared ahead of time during the Fall!

Here are 6 vehicle maintenance tasks you should check off your list this Fall:

Get an Oil Change

Your oil level may be okay for now but the colder weather does make oil more susceptible to freezing while the engine will neutrally be colder, so you need to be well-lubricated to remain in top condition for the coming months.

Remember, oil needs to be changed every 5,000 miles and you’ve likely clocked up a large portion of these during the summer months, especially if you’ve done some traveling. It’s always good to have a fresh oil change during the fall to ensure everything is working well into winter.

Make Sure Heaters and Defrosters Work

As you can imagine, your heaters are going to be on more often during Fall and into winter, so always check to see these are working as expected, especially if you’ve not turned them on throughout the summer.

Similarly, check defrosters to ensure they are working – the last thing you want is a frozen windshield that you need to get out and scrape in a cold fall morning!

Check Battery

A combination of colder weather and using heaters more often means the vehicle’s battery is under more strain come the fall. So, it’s a good idea to take the battery to get checked and replaced, if necessary. You can also clean the connections to ensure the wire is properly connected.

Check Lights

If you haven’t checked all your lights by the end of summer, then now is the time to do so. Fall means shorter days and longer nights, so your lights are going to be used more frequently and you’ll want to make sure they all work.

Check everything including headlines, brake lights, emergency lights and taillights to ensure they work, and no bulbs need to be replaced. Consider cleaning them too as there may be a build-up of dust, dirt, and dead bugs from the summer months.

Clean or Replace Windshield Wipers

You may not have used your windshield wipers during the summer but that’s probably going to change come fall. Wipers need to be clean and unbroken, otherwise they won’t clear the windshield properly and could cause a huge safety risk when driving in the rain.

So, check the windshield wipers for signs of wearing or any cracks, replacing immediately if they appear damaged.

Check Tires

Tires need to be in good condition for fall and winter because the road conditions are more hazardous. Check the pressure levels and get them filled with air if too low, while also inspecting the treads for signs of wearing, replacing if necessary.

ne prices go up and you need to conserve as much of the savings as possible.

Here are 6 ways to get better gas mileage and save money:

1. Drive More Efficiently

This may seem obvious but the early morning drive to work or the rush at five o’clock can cause us to brake quickly and accelerate rapidly. The frequent braking and rapid acceleration can be detrimental to vehicle’s fuel efficiency. If you want to get better gas mileage, then it is recommended that you drive more efficiently, avoid idling for more than a few minutes, and use cruise control whenever possible.

2. Keep Up with Vehicle Maintenance

You can cut fuel gauge costs as well as increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle with preventive maintenance. Keeping up with vehicle maintenance will help you identify the gas guzzling problems on time and fix them before they become worse. Apart from this, you should also use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil as it can improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and gas mileage by 1-2%.

3. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

Your gas mileage is significantly affected by under-inflated tires. You can add a few more miles to each gallon of gasoline by simply keeping your tires at the proper air pressure. You can read about the correct pressure for your tires in the owner’s manual.

4. Change the Air Filter

Engines with dirty or clogged air filters work harder than engines with clean air filters. So, it is highly recommended that you change the air filter so that your vehicle’s engine operates much more efficiently, and you get better gas mileage.

5. Drop the Excess Weight

The heavier the vehicle, the harder it is to roll. Heavy vehicles require more gas as they make the engine work harder. So, you should check what you carry inside your trunk and vehicle. Dropping the excess weight will allow the engine to roll your vehicle more easily, hence achieving better gas mileage. Check the trunk and if there is anything that doesn’t need to be in it, remove it as soon as possible.

6. Combine the Errands When Possible

Planning appointments, errands, and other trips will help you save money and time. It is also recommended that you combine the errands whenever possible. Going out on several errands during the day is a real gas waster. You can save on gasoline in the long run by making a habit of combining several trips into one.

Final Word

Improving your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and getting better gas mileage can become a rather interesting game. It simply requires a little bit of research and ingenuity, but it is all well worth it. When it comes to saving fuel and getting better gas mileage, the small things really add up.