Experts gave tips on preparing cars for the spring season

In early spring, Russian motorists most often turn to service stations to repair suspension and body parts, replace plastic and rubber elements "under the hood" — in the engine and brake system, according to Alfa-Leasing, which was reviewed by Izvestia. The leasing company stressed that it is worth preparing the car for spring operation in advance, and gave some advice to the Russians.

Experts noted that the operation of the car in the conditions of the Russian winter is accompanied by wear of the suspension. Silent blocks and ball bearings can fail, causing characteristic knocks and instability of the car on the road surface. Rubber elements such as pipes, oil seals, and drive belts lose their elasticity in winter due to sudden temperature changes. This can lead to leaks of technical fluids, respectively, to accelerated depreciation of components and assemblies.

In addition, they clarified that imperfections in the paintwork also usually appear in the spring after driving along roadways cleared of snow using reagents. Corrosion of the body is also possible due to moisture ingress and freezing of water, and the formation of rust is fraught with weakening of metal structures and reducing the overall strength of the body, respectively, and the safety level of the driver and passengers.

Stretch the tires: it's too early to change tires, despite the March warming

By the end of the month, the temperature will drop to negative values, meteorologists warn.

Experts reminded about the necessary comprehensive diagnostics of the technical condition of the car during the change of season. First of all, it is worth checking the level of technical fluids. The company clarified: if the mileage of the car in December-February was more than 7-8 thousand km, you need to replace the engine oil with a more viscous one, more suitable for the summer season (15W40, 10W40, 5W40). Check the condition of the brake and coolant, replace them if necessary, and check the condition of all rubber tubes and hoses.

At the same time, the company recalled that it is necessary to check the shock absorbers, ball bearings, bushings and silent blocks and dust covers in the undercarriage, as they could form backlashes, leaks and damage during the winter period. They clarified that one should not ignore the assessment of the level of depreciation of brake discs and pads: in winter, it is not uncommon for the latter to freeze to the discs due to frost, impairing the efficiency of the braking system. In case of warming, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the car and check the thresholds, wheel arches and doors for possible chips and rust. In case of detection of even minor foci, experts advised to carry out an anti-corrosion treatment of the entire body.

"Some of the work from the list of car preparation works for spring can be carried out independently. For example, checking the level of technical fluids, replacing filters, windshield washer fluid, and the wipers themselves. But it is better to entrust most of the process to authorized dealers and service centers, especially considering that last year the cost of preparing for spring operation of cars decreased by 2%. For example, the average receipt for the purchase of a set of tires last year was about 6 thousand rubles, which is 8% lower than in 2023, and the average cost of original spare parts for Chinese cars is 1.7%," said Andrey Kochnev, head of the Alfa—Leasing Group of Companies' motor transport department.

Earlier, on February 27, Sergey Tselikov, director of the Autostat analytical agency, said that Russia had recorded a historical record for sales of new pickups in a year. By the end of last year, 29.2 thousand such cars were sold in the country, with an annual increase of 65%.