OREANDA-NEWS. March 17, 2016. Clearing and cleaning is an annual spring tradition, but a thorough clean is not just needed for the inside of your home. Spring is in the air and the experts at Autotrader are helping car owners get ready for the change of seasons.

"Most drivers know about the importance of keeping up with their vehicle's maintenance, and simple regular upkeep is one of the easiest ways to increase driving safety," said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. "Effectively maintaining a car means more than making needed repairs; certain regular tasks can actually help prevent damage or things breaking in the first place."

From cleaning your hood, to looking under your hood, here are the top tips from Autotrader on spring car care:

  • Wash and Wax: A good, thorough wash and wax is the most important thing to do with your car once the winter is over. Winter driving can cause a huge amount of road grime, debris and – worst of all – salt to build up on your car. You want to make sure those items are long gone before spring starts. Allowing debris and grime to build up on your car can affect its paint and finish, while allowing salt to build up can lead to rust and other serious problems.
  • Clean the Inside, Too: Nobody wants to spend time cleaning out their car during a cold winter day. That's why spring is the perfect time to clean your car's interior, so spend a day doing some spring-cleaning. Remove and throw away all the interior papers, trash and other items that have accrued over the winter.
  • Check Your Tire Pressures: As air temperatures get cooler during the winter, tire pressures decrease, which probably caused you to fill up your tires during the winter months. But as air gets warmer again in the spring, tire pressures can increase. Tire pressure above the vehicle manufacturer specification can adversely affect your car's drivability and fuel economy.
  • Check Under the Hood: Do a thorough check under the hood to make sure your car's engine made it through the winter unscathed. Specifically, check belts and hoses to ensure the cold temperatures haven't rendered them brittle or heavily worn. If you aren't comfortable performing these checks on your own, contact a local mechanic.
  • Check Alignment and Suspension: Winter is known for being harsh on roads, and that in turn can be harsh on your vehicle. If you find yourself frequently traversing roads with huge potholes or rocks that have emerged from the asphalt, it could ruin your car's alignment or damage suspension components.

To learn more about how to keep your car running happy, visit "Simple Spring Car Care Tips" at Autotrader.com.

About Autotrader 
Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.

Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive™ family includes Autotrader®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, VinSolutions, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has nearly 30,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of \\$18 billion and approximately 55,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.