It’s autumn, and you’ve got that fall fever to enjoy pumpkin flavors and see the changing leaves. Those autumn leaves could be trouble for your car.
Every day that you drive your car, you are taking your beloved vehicle into a world that could change it. The roadways are covered in tar, have roadkill on them, and you might end up behind a truck carrying gravel that could turn your windshield into a virtual shooting range target. Something you might not think about is the trouble your car could be in while its sitting in your driveway.
Leaves are harmful to your vehicle
When parked, you want your car to be under a tree and out of the sun. This is a great way to avoid sun damage and excessive heat during the summer months, but in autumn, things change. If your driveway is surrounded by tall trees, and you don’t park in the garage, you don’t have a choice but to park under trees. When you do this, your car could be covered in the autumn leaves that fall from the trees. When this happens, you’ve got to remove the leaves immediately.
Acids are harmful
Dead leaves are full of harmful acids that could leave stains on your paint. This can be especially true if the leaves have been left on your car for several days with rain and/or frost activating the acids further. When leaves get stuck on your car, they can be difficult to remove. This means you might need to scrub them off and find ways to remove the stains.
Thankfully, most leaf stains can be removed using regular car soap, but if you have some stubborn stains, you’ll need to employ some sap-removal techniques because the acids in the leaves act like sap in the way the leaves become stuck and stain your car’s paint.
Good protection matters
If you know your car will be parked for several days at a time and could have leaves on it, you need to use a good ceramic coat or paint protection film to make sure the leaves can’t harm your vehicle. Even if you don’t park your car for several days at a time, this is good advice. Your car is in danger of having its paint damaged whether you drive it daily or have it parked under a leafy tree for several days at a time.
How else could autumn leaves be problematic?
The leaves of fall can get stuck in places that you don’t want them to be, making it difficult for you to enjoy the ideal performance while driving your car. Leaves can collect at the top of your hood, where the air is brought in for the climate control system, and they can be sucked into the intakes, which are generally positioned low on your car. If you’re removing leaves from your car, check these areas to ensure they aren’t blocking the airflow to your engine or climate system.
What else should you check in autumn?
If you live in an area where the leaves fall off the trees, you should perform some regular care and maintenance items while removing the autumn leaves off of your car. Many drivers will perform some maintenance items every six months, meaning fall and spring, to ensure they are prepared for the hotter days of summer and the colder days of winter.
Here are some additional maintenance items you need to consider:
- Check the belts and hoses
- Check the fluid levels – especially the windshield washer fluid
- Check your tires – this should be done monthly
- Put your cold weather kit in the car – this kit should have
- Gloves
- Ice scraper
- Blanket
- First aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- Check the oil
- Check the heat – you’ll want it working in winter
- Check the brakes
- Change windshield wipers – every six months
- Install all-weather floor mats
- Check the lights
- Check the battery
Now, about that pumpkin stuff
Not everyone loves pumpkin and some feel this fall flavor has taken over their favorite coffees and drinks. There are other fall flavors you can enjoy such as cinnamon, apple, salted caramel, maple, and brown butter. Try some of these alternative flavors as either a replacement for pumpkin or as an addition to it.
It’s important to take the leaves off of your car as soon as they fall. If you know your vehicle will sit in the driveway for the fall and winter seasons, put a car cover on it and let your precious warm-weather car rest until spring arrives.
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