For many of our winter visitors, (or snowbirds, as they are often referred to) Phoenix is the source of a winter of activity that many are unable to participate in back East as the season changes. It’s no wonder the valley of the sun is such a destination for this group of tourists.
With pro sports teams, world-class golf, a burgeoning culinary scene among numerous other attractions that the market allows for, as the freeways become more crowded in the winter it’s easy to understand why there are so many foreign license plates sharing our roadways. For as large as the Phoenix area is, you really need a car to get around.
So what are some things that a visitor might want to check over on their car once they get out here?
Automotive Maintenance in Phoenix
First of all, tire pressure and the general condition of each tire is important to inspect. Cross country freeway driving, especially under load, combined with the change in temperature from somewhere like Chicago can make what was once an over (or underinflated) tire suddenly much higher or lower in PSI. This is easy to check, and something we at the Auto Shop will take care of for you if you add on a tire rotation to any one of our services.
Another item to consider may be the weight of your car’s oil. If it’s time for an oil change, the best idea is to run manufacturer spec viscosity, but some choose to use a thinner or lighter “weight” of oil in the winter months to help their oil circulate easier as it becomes thicker as the temperature drops. As Phoenix generally stays above freezing all winter long, this isn’t a huge concern for most but can still be worth researching.
A last tip for taking care of your car in Phoenix is to simply check your fluids. While this is something that you probably will have taken care of before embarking on a trek from the Midwest or East coast, the condition of your vehicle’s coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc. can be indicative of an underlying issue that you’ll want to address in order to safely and reliably be able to get around this great city.
And if you’re looking for a mechanic in the greater Phoenix area (that includes Scottsdale, Tempe, Sun City, Glendale, Gilbert, Chandler and more) in order to make sure you can get around town and eventually back home for the summer when winter is over, at The Auto Shop we know how to keep your car road-ready. Give us a call today!