Lower Mainland winters don’t tend to be overly tough on cars. Still, there are plenty of things that can wear on an aged auto during the rainy months. If you’re not careful, they could send old reliable to the junk heap.
The Courier got in touch with Brett Griffiths, an instructor at Vancouver Community College’s automotive program, for a few tips on how to keep your older car running.
The basics
You should change your oil very six months or so. “[Oil changes] should definitely be done for spring,” says Griffiths. That’s usually step one of a basic tune-up.
Usually, the back of a vehicle’s owner’s manual will list how often you should have specific service performed. If you don’t have the original manual, take a look online.
Top up your fluids
Make sure the fluids in your cooling system are topped up as the temperature warms. “[Low fluid levels] will give you problems going into summer. Cooling systems are prone to failure in higher temperatures,” says Griffiths. Any leaks from the undercarriage should be an immediate cause for concern.
They’re called winter tires for a reason
It seems like a no brainer: winter tires are for winter and summer tires are for summer. Still, it’s easy to forget that bulky treads can do more harm than good once the rain lets up. “People forget it’s a good idea to have summer tires as well,” said Griffiths. “[Winter tires] definitely hurt your fuel efficiency. They’re also softer, so they don’t work as well on hot pavement.”
Speaking of tires…
“You should also check out the wear on tires,” says Griffiths. “Which way are they worn? If it’s to one side or another, that could indicate an alignment issue.”
Run the numbers
If you’re looking to buy an older car, make sure to get as much of the paperwork as possible. It’s unlikely a used dealer will have much of the vehicle’s repair receipt history, but you can run the vehicle identification number [VIN] through an online vehicle history reporting service like CarProof to check for major accidents. The VIN is a (usually) 17-digit number that will alert you to red flags in the vehicle’s past. Also, be sure to check your prospective ride with AirCare to make sure you’re not getting a truly noxious clunker.
Dealerships versus mom and pop shops
Griffiths points out that the repair shops at dealerships are often required to bring a car up to the factory recommended service level. “That sometimes means things cost a little more [than non-factory repair shops],” he says. If you go to a smaller shop, make sure the repair staff are Red Seal certified. The seal means the repairperson has gone through a recognized automotive program. “There are quite a few [repair shops] in the Lower Mainland where the person is not [Red Seal] certified,” he said.
