Spring Maintenance Checklist: Getting Your Challenger Ready After Winter

Under the Hood First

Engine oil and filter: If you used conventional oil for winter, spring is a good time to switch to full synthetic (0W-40 or 5W-20 per spec) and do a fresh change.

Coolant: Check freeze point and concentration with a test strip. Top off or flush if the level dropped or the mix looks off.

Brake fluid: Moisture-absorbing brake fluid degrades over winter. If you didn't change it in the last 2 years, spring is the right time.

Air filter: Winter driving pulls in road salt and particulates. Inspect and replace if dirty.

Belts and hoses: Cold snaps stress rubber. Look for cracking, glazing, or soft spots on the serpentine belt and coolant hoses.

Underneath the Car

Brake inspection: Remove all wheels, inspect pads and rotors. Road salt accelerates rotor surface rust — surface rust wipes off after a few stops, but deeply pitted rotors need replacement.

Exhaust: Salt corrosion attacks exhaust components. Inspect hangers, joints, and mufflers for rust perforation. Undercoating peeling can get sucked into exhaust heat shields.

Suspension: Check ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar end links for play. These wear faster on salt roads.

Tires

Switch back to summer or all-season tires if you ran dedicated winter tires. Inspect tread depth (replace below 3/32"). Check and reset tire pressure — spring temps mean pressure naturally rises from winter lows.

Exterior and Interior

• Wash and clay bar the paint to remove salt contamination
• Check door seals for cracking (winter cold hardens rubber)
• Inspect undercarriage for chips in rustproofing or frame coating
• Vacuum interior, clean floor mats that collected winter salt

Quick Fluid Check Summary