You should follow the "7-7 Rule," which advises switching to all-season or summer tires once temperatures stay consistently above 7°C for seven consecutive days. This prevents the softer rubber compound of winter tires from wearing down prematurely on warm pavement.
Spring car maintenance checklist: keeping your vehicle in top condition
Winter is fading quickly from memory and the smell of spring is in the air. Most vehicles have survived Canada’s harsh winter environment without problems, but winter driving usually means a lot of idling time for our vehicles. Slower, rougher commutes because of road conditions take their toll on all vehicles. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way to ensure trouble-free motoring this spring.
Key Takeaways
- Spring maintenance is the essential "de-winterizing" process of cleaning and inspecting a vehicle after months of exposure to sub-zero temperatures, corrosive salt, and heavy slush.
- You should switch to summer or all-season tires once temperatures stay consistently above 7°C to prevent wearing down soft winter rubber on warm pavement.
- Replacing your cabin air filter in the spring clears out salt dust, moisture, and mold spores before allergy season begins.
- A spring battery health check is vital because extreme cold and the heavy use of winter accessories can cause internal wear and permanent capacity loss.
- It is important to change your engine oil in the spring to remove sludge and acids formed by condensation that accumulates during cold starts and short winter trips.
- A professional brake service—including cleaning and lubricating the hardware—is recommended to prevent calipers from seizing due to winter salt and grit.
What is spring car maintenance?
In Canada, spring car maintenance is the essential process of de-winterizing your vehicle after months of exposure to sub-zero temperatures, corrosive road salt and heavy slush. The primary focus is cleaning and inspection: a high-pressure undercarriage wash is vital to remove salt that causes rust, while swapping out winter tires for all-seasons or summer tires ensures you don't wear down soft winter rubber on warm pavement. It is also the standard time to check fluid levels, replace wiper blades streaked by ice, and inspect the suspension and alignment, which often take a beating from pothole season.
Key Spring Vehicle Maintenance Checks
Checking Engine Oil and Fluids
Under hood inspections are mostly visual. You can see the levels of brake fluid and engine coolant in their reservoirs on most vehicles. Low brake fluid could indicate a leak but if the brake pedal is firm, then it likely indicates worn brake pads. Low engine coolant is a sign of a leak. External leaks will leave a visible stain on the parts. An internal engine coolant leak is more serious as it can destroy an engine when coolant mixes with the oil. It's time to have your Mitsubishi Motors service centre check out your vehicle if either level is low. Also, an oil or wet spot on the driveway or garage floor may be an early indication of trouble. Your service centre can determine if it is serious or just requires some maintenance.
Spring is also the time to change your engine oil. Cold starts and short trips cause a lot of condensation inside the engine. Over the winter a litre or more of water could collect in your engine oil. The water causes sludge and acids to form inside the engine. The oil level may look fine, but extended highway driving will cause the water to evaporate and your engine is now operating with low oil levels. A simple oil and filter change will help protect the engine.
While under the hood, take a look at the engine accessory drive belt or belts. Belts can last many years but if you see large cracks or chunks missing from the belt then they are due for a change. Now is also a good time to refill the windshield washer container. Spring rains and dirty roads can hinder your visibility quickly.
While under the hood, take a look at the engine accessory drive belt or belts. Belts can last many years but if you see large cracks or chunks missing from the belt then they are due for a change. Now is also a good time to refill the windshield washer container. Spring rains and dirty roads can hinder your visibility quickly.
Inspecting Tires and Adjusting Tire Pressure
Tire inspection is critical to safety. A normal tire will lose about one PSI air pressure per month and outside temperature variations can cause even a larger change. Fill your tires to the recommended pressure indicated on the decal, usually located by the driver’s door jamb. Don’t forget to check the spare tire too if your vehicle has one.
Tire tread should be worn evenly across the face. The minimum legal tire tread depth is 2/32 of an inch (1.6 mm). At that depth, “wear bars” of solid rubber will appear across the tread pattern as a warning. Above that tread depth, the tires have enough traction for dry pavement, but if you are driving on wet or muddy roads, you need more tread depth to provide traction. It may be time for new tires.
Tire tread should be worn evenly across the face. The minimum legal tire tread depth is 2/32 of an inch (1.6 mm). At that depth, “wear bars” of solid rubber will appear across the tread pattern as a warning. Above that tread depth, the tires have enough traction for dry pavement, but if you are driving on wet or muddy roads, you need more tread depth to provide traction. It may be time for new tires.
Inspecting Brakes
Spring brake inspections are less about wear and tear from stopping and more about corrosion and contamination from the winter conditions. While your pads might still have plenty of thickness, the hardware surrounding them has just survived a four-month salt bath.
Spring Brake Warning Signs
Symptom |
Potential Winter Cause |
High-Pitched Squeal |
Salt buildup or a worn-down "wear indicator" tab. |
Grinding Noise |
Heavy rust or a stone/grit trapped in the assembly. |
Spongy Pedal |
Air or moisture in the brake fluid (which is "hygroscopic" and absorbs water). |
Burning Smell |
A seized caliper causing the pads to stay pressed against the rotor. |
The most cost-effective time to have a mechanic perform a brake service (clean and lube) rather than just a visual inspection is when you are swapping your winter tires for summers or all-seasons and the wheels are already off.
Checking Suspension and Alignment
Spring is a good time to have the wheel alignment checked. Rough winter roads, potholes and severe bumps can wear suspension components or bend parts. During an alignment, the technician will check the suspension and steering for wear or damage and adjust the settings if required.
A vehicle with proper wheel alignment will use less fuel, increase tire life and be safer to drive.
Other items such as exhaust system pipes, mufflers and mountings require getting beneath the vehicle and are easier left to professionals; they should be inspected at least once a year, so have them checked when you have the wheel alignment checked.
A vehicle with proper wheel alignment will use less fuel, increase tire life and be safer to drive.
Other items such as exhaust system pipes, mufflers and mountings require getting beneath the vehicle and are easier left to professionals; they should be inspected at least once a year, so have them checked when you have the wheel alignment checked.
Replacing Cabin Air Filter
While it’s easy to focus on the metal and rubber outside the car, your cabin air filter is the gatekeeper for the air you breathe inside. In Canada, the transition from winter to spring presents three specific challenges that make a replacement essential:
- Salt Dust: Throughout the winter, road salt dries into a fine white powder. As you track it into your car on your boots, it gets pulled into the ventilation system. A clogged filter full of salt dust can restrict airflow, making your AC work harder and leaving a faint, gritty smell in the cabin.
- Moisture and Mold: Winter in Canada is damp. Snow melts off your shoes into the carpets, and condensation builds up in the HVAC ducts. This creates a dark, moist environment where mold and mildew can thrive over the winter months. Swapping the filter gets rid of those trapped spores before you start blasting AC in the heat.
- The Pollen Punch: Once the snow melts, Canadian flora hits hard and fast. If your filter is already semi-clogged with winter debris, it won't effectively trap the fine yellow birch or pine pollen that coats everything in May. Starting spring with a fresh filter ensures that your car remains a safe zone for your lungs.
Signs your cabin air filter needs to be replaced:
Symptom |
Why it happens |
Musty Smell |
Mildew or organic debris trapped in the pleats |
Weak Airflow |
The filter is physically choked with dust and salt |
Whistling Noise |
Air is struggling to bypass a heavy blockage |
Foggy Windows |
Poor airflow prevents the HVAC system from dehumidifying the cabin |
Testing Battery Health
Winter in Canada is essentially an endurance test for your car battery, and spring is when the hidden damage usually reveals itself. While we often worry about the battery dying on a -30°C morning, the spring health check is important for long-term reliability. Here is why that seasonal transition is so hard on your battery:
1. The "Chemical Sluggishness" of Winter
Lead-acid batteries rely on a chemical reaction to produce power. In extreme cold, this reaction slows down significantly. At -18°C, a battery has about 40% less cranking power than it does at room temperature, yet the engine requires double the power to turn over because the oil has thickened. This constant "max effort" discharge throughout a Canadian winter causes internal wear that degrades the battery's overall lifespan.
2. Parasitic Drain from Winter Accessories
During winter, you aren't just driving; you’re running the heater, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and defrosters simultaneously. Often, on short city trips, the alternator doesn't have enough time to fully recharge the battery after the massive energy dump required to start in the cold. This leaves the battery in a permanent state of undercharge, which leads to "sulfation"—a buildup of crystals on the battery plates that permanently reduces its capacity.
3. Heat: The Real Battery Killer
There is a common misconception that cold kills batteries. In reality, cold finishes off what heat started. However, if a winter-weakened battery enters the rising temperatures of spring and summer, the internal chemistry becomes more volatile. Heat accelerates internal corrosion. If your battery is borderline weak in March, the first 25°C day in May might be the final straw that causes an internal short.
What a "Batter Health Check" Actually Measures
Metric |
What it tells you |
Voltage |
Is the battery currently charged? (Should be ~12.6V) |
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) |
Can the battery still provide the punch needed to start the car? |
Internal Resistance |
Is there physical degradation or buildup inside the battery? |
Terminal Condition |
Has road salt caused white, crusty corrosion that blocks the current? |
Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades
While the rule of thumb is to replace wipers every couple of years, a Canadian winter often accelerates that timeline to a single season. If your car sits outside, it isn't just age that degrades the rubber; it is a physical battle against the elements.
The most common cause of wiper failure in Canada is the bond between the rubber blade and the windshield during a freeze. When snow melts during the day and freezes at night, or freezing rain strikes, your wipers become fused to the glass. They then gather micro-tears if you use the wipers before they are defrosted.
Spring is a perfect time for a reset and a clean, streak-free windshield.
How to Replace Wiper Blades:
- Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine the correct size of wiper blades for your vehicle. We recommend using genuine Mitsubishi wiper blades for the best results. Contact your local dealer to learn more and purchase replacements.
- To remove the existing wiper blades, lift the wiper arm away from the windshield to access the wiper blade.
- Pull the release tab up, turn the blade at an angle, and then push the wiper blade down in line with the wiper arm to remove it.
- Align the new blade with the wiper arm and insert it until you hear a click.
- Push down the release tab to lock the blade in place.
- Gently lower the wiper arm back onto the windshield to prevent any potential damage when opening the hood.
- Ensure the blades make good contact with the glass for effective clearing, and to avoid the risk of damaging the wiper arm due to wind pressure.
Exterior Cleaning and Salt Removal
Spring is the most critical time for a rust check because the rising temperatures accelerates the corrosive reaction between road salt and metal.
Washing your vehicle thoroughly is a good way to get rid of winter salt accumulations. Wash inside the wheel openings, inside front fenders, along the bottoms of doors and beneath the car body as much as possible, but avoid spraying electrical components and connections.
Check the small weep holes at the bottom of your doors and rocker panels. If these are plugged with winter grit, water traps inside the metal, causing "inside-out" rusting. Use a pipe cleaner or a small zip-tie to clear them.
Finish the task by applying polish to the exterior paint (in a shaded location). This not only prolongs the life of your vehicle but increases its value and you will likely feel better driving it.
Washing your vehicle thoroughly is a good way to get rid of winter salt accumulations. Wash inside the wheel openings, inside front fenders, along the bottoms of doors and beneath the car body as much as possible, but avoid spraying electrical components and connections.
Check the small weep holes at the bottom of your doors and rocker panels. If these are plugged with winter grit, water traps inside the metal, causing "inside-out" rusting. Use a pipe cleaner or a small zip-tie to clear them.
Finish the task by applying polish to the exterior paint (in a shaded location). This not only prolongs the life of your vehicle but increases its value and you will likely feel better driving it.
When to Switch from Winter Tires
What is important to remember is that different tire compounds provide different grip as the seasons, and temperatures, change.
The 7 7 Rule is a guideline for changing your car tires, which advises you to switch to all-season or summer tires once temperatures are consistently above 7°C for seven days.
The 7 7 Rule is a guideline for changing your car tires, which advises you to switch to all-season or summer tires once temperatures are consistently above 7°C for seven days.
Spring Vehicle Maintenance Checklist
What to Check |
Why It Matters |
Undercarriage & Body |
High-pressure washing removes corrosive road salt that causes rust, particularly as rising temperatures accelerate the chemical reaction between salt and metal. |
Tires (Swap & Pressure) |
Switching to all-season or summer tires once temperatures are consistently above 7°C prevents wearing down soft winter rubber on warm pavement. Proper pressure increases safety and tire life. |
Brake System |
Salt and grit can cause calipers to seize; a spring service (cleaning and lubricating) prevents premature wear and ensures the hardware is free of winter contamination. |
Engine Oil & Filter |
Winter cold starts and short trips cause condensation to collect in the oil, forming sludge and acids that can damage the engine. |
Battery Health |
Extreme cold and the heavy use of winter accessories weaken batteries; a health check ensures the battery still has the "punch" to start the car and hasn't suffered internal damage. |
Cabin Air Filter |
Replacing the filter clears out trapped salt dust, moisture, and mold spores before allergy season and heavy AC use begin. |
Wheel Alignment |
Rough winter roads and potholes can bend parts or wear suspension components; proper alignment improves safety and reduces fuel consumption. |
Wiper Blades |
Blades streaked or ripped by ice and freezing rain hinder visibility during spring rains. |
Fluids & Belts |
Visual inspections of coolant, brake fluid, and accessory belts can identify leaks or physical damage (like cracks) before they lead to major mechanical failure. |
Drain Holes |
Clearing grit from weep holes in doors and rocker panels prevents trapped water from causing "inside-out" rusting. |
A vehicle is made up of over 15,000 individual parts. No matter how carefully everything is inspected, you can’t predict exactly what will work or fail. We have all seen those vehicles disabled on the side of the road. Some simple inspections and a little maintenance before you travel may be all that it takes to avoid joining their ranks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Vehicle Maintenance
Cold starts and short trips during a Canadian winter cause significant condensation to build up inside the engine, sometimes collecting a litre or more of water in the oil. This water creates harmful sludge and acids, which can be cleared out with a fresh oil and filter change to protect the engine.
While extreme cold weakens a battery's cranking power by about 40%, it often just finishes off the damage started by summer heat. A spring health check is vital because the battery likely suffered internal wear from constant "max effort" discharges and parasitic drain from heaters and defrosters over the winter.
Even if it looks okay, the filter often traps dried salt dust, moisture, and mold spores during the damp winter months. Replacing it in the spring ensures these contaminants and spring pollen are filtered out before you begin using your air conditioning heavily.
While a visual check is helpful, the most cost-effective approach is a full brake service (clean and lube) while your wheels are already off for a tire swap. This helps remove the "salt bath" residue that can cause calipers to seize, regardless of how much thickness is left on your brake pads.
Beyond a standard car wash, you should specifically check and clear the small weep holes at the bottom of your doors and rocker panels. If these are plugged with winter grit, water becomes trapped inside the metal panels, leading to internal corrosion.
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