Starting the spring off the right foot
Now that Winter is behind us (at least for the most part) it's time to get that special steed out of the barn. Some of us place our pride and joy Mustangs in storage during the winter months and may go so far as “bagging” the car in a climate controlled, humidity managed protective capsule. On the other extreme, some of us just pull the car into the garage in the Fall, turn the ignition off and don’t turn the key again till Spring. Most of us probably fall somewhere in between these extremes, and if this is the case for you, here are a few tips for returning your car to the street in the same or better shape that it was when you put it to rest for the winter.
The first thing I recommend doing in the Spring is to change the oil and filter, even if you only have 1000 miles on it. When the car sits, the engine oil can separate, degrade and accumulate moisture from the combustion process. You don’t want to run that muck through your engine in the Spring so spend a few bucks and change it. While you're at it, check a spark plug or two and make sure they are holding up ok; odds are they will be just fine, but why take the chance? In only a few minutes you can check them and be sure they are fine.
The second item to examine is the air filter – something typically forgotten about when checking your car over. Many Mustang enthusiasts convert to an aftermarket cold air kit or install an aftermarket air filter. Many of these air filters are cleanable and re-usable so there are two things to keep in mind when you have an aftermarket filter. One, the performance gain you get from this filter is due to reduced restriction of air as the engine requires it. As your aftermarket filter collects dirt, bugs, leaves, small animals etc. the “performance” of the filter is quickly reduced. So to keep the filter - and your engine - performing, I would check and potentially clean the filter at each oil change (every 3000 miles or 6 months). Two, if you have a re-usable filter, be sure to let it dry completely after washing it, then oil modestly. Try not to over oil as this can cause oil molecules to build up on electronic components; potentially, creating a malfunction or failure. Now that your engine has fresh oil flowing through its veins and a clean filter for breathing, it's time to consider a few less obvious items.
How is your gas?….I meant in your Mustang! If you have a car that is tuned for 91 or 93 Octane fuel and you filled your tank completely prior to putting her up for the winter, a chemical change has been occurring all Winter which results in a lowering of the actual octane level of the fuel in your tank. Although it is not an extreme change over the course of 4 to 6 months, it is still a change. So what? Well if you have a boosted engine with a tune that squeezes every last bit of performance from your premium fuel, you no longer have premium fuel composition. As a result, your Mustang performance may be worse and the engine may be running on the lean side at extreme conditions. So, be sure to run the Winter fuel through your car on the street - don’t head to the track on the first Spring day and run the Winter fuel out under sever duty driving.
Next, I recommend checking those Mustang tires for correct air pressure since almost every tire looses air pressure as it goes through significant temperature changes. While you're at it, check the tires for wear. Be sure to look at the inside of the tire tread as this area will wear when the alignment is out of spec and can indicate worn suspension components. Your Mustang's tires can tell you a lot about how your car's suspension – and chassis - is performing. When was the last time the brake pads were changed? Also, brake fluid should be changed as your car ages because it gathers containments caused by brake part wear and collects moisture from the atmosphere – each of these items reduce brake fluid performance and your brake system as a whole. Final Mustang check is the transmission fluid, coolant and power steering fluid levels.
These items might sound like a lot to do, but will probably take less than two hours to perform once you get started. I believe completing these steps can make your Mustang's Spring "coming out" all the more enjoyable! So, get started so we see you on the road when the Spring weather arrives!
- Scott Hoag
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