Is the thaw approaching? Probably the first classic rally you’re planning to attend coming up soon? If so, you need to properly prepare your vehicle for the summer season when you’ll be running it a little more. Today we’ll talk about inspecting the most important components.
Winters have been varied in recent years, rarely cold and snowy, rather mild. This does not mean, however, that for a classic the winter, even a light one, is a good thing. On the contrary, it can strongly affect the quality of the vehicle – after all, this one is not young. So today we will describe what you should check before the first long journey. It will be about the basics, we will also deal with a little less obvious parts of the car.
Many experts recommend changing the oil before winter, as this will give the engine better lubrication in harsh conditions, such as cold temperatures. However, does this make sense in the case of a classic? Since you do not drive it in winter anyway (hardly anyone takes a classic out of their garage), it is better to change the oil after winter. Especially if the vehicle was not used often after the last oil change
Classic cars are not driven thousands of kilometers every month. Most often, these are routes up to 10 kilometers per rally in the city, sometimes a bit longer, you also often stand in traffic jams, which contaminates the filters and the engine. All this matters and makes that if an oil change needs to be done, it is worth doing it just after winter.
This is another element in the vehicle, which, unused or used in harsh winter conditions, may play tricks during the summer season. So it is better to get rid of the risk in advance and simply replace them.
In the first place, you should think about replacing the air filter. If you’re due for an oil change after winter, you’ll probably replace the fuel filter too, not to mention the mandatory oil filter. Spring is also allergy time, if you or other frequent Classic travelers are allergic to pollen from flowers or trees, your cabin filter needs to be replaced.
An important item to check if your car has been out of service for too long. Of course, tire pressure is worth checking whenever you are concerned about the amount of air, even visually. After all, it is about safety, which in the case of classics is of great importance, especially if these are not perfectly restored cars and several elements are in not very good condition. After all, it is not always possible to buy parts, so taking care of what is within our reach is important.
Writing about safety, it is worth mentioning the brakes, they should also be checked. We mean both pads and discs – not only their condition, but also contamination. They should not be, because it can significantly affect the quality of braking, that is, increase the distance needed to stop the vehicle, especially in difficult road conditions.
Suspension components are also worth checking, especially if in the previous summer season you drove your classic a lot, and in the autumn and winter you did not make kilometers. Suspension can not only be in poor condition, but also heavily contaminated. So it’s worth checking especially the shock absorbers, even though for some classics it may be difficult to buy springs in good condition.
Spring is the perfect time to specifically inspect your car for any damage. It is also the time for changes, such as oil or filters. If you want to properly prepare your classic for the summer season, you should also take care of the elements not mentioned here. Maybe it is worth taking care of the car body? Restore its former glory? We think it is a good idea! Spring is always a stimulus to make changes in life, and for many a classic in the garage is a lifetime.
(Photo: pixabay.com)
