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CarMax Provides 'Spring Cleaning' Advice for Your Car

"Spring is the best season for car care. The mild weather allows you to test all critical vehicle systems and see what shape they're in," said Juan Crespo, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. "Take your car's cabin air filter for example, a dirty or clogged filter might have gone unnoticed in winter, but might make the cabin smell moldy and restrict the flow of cool, fresh air into the cabin on a hot summer day."

To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, CarMax technicians suggest that drivers perform the following five tasks in the spring:

    1.  Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage
        wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter
        road treatments used to melt ice and snow.
    2.  Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV
        rays.
    3.  Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles and have the air filter
        and PCV valve checked and replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can
        cause the formation of harmful condensation and acids in the engine
        oil.
    4.  Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional if the
        engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise.
        Preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and
        improve gas mileage.
    5.  Have a qualified automotive technician check:
        --  The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses
            deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your
            cooling system a workout.
        --  All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace
            wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in
            all weather conditions.
        --  The tires for any abnormalities; the tire pressure should also be
            set at the level specified for your vehicle.
        --  All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly for damage due to
            corrosion since most states use salt, sand or other chemicals to
            melt snow and ice on the roads. During this process, it is also a
            good idea to have the tires rotated.
        --  Your vehicle's steering and suspension for loose, worn or damaged
            components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
        --  The air conditioner, so you can avoid the wait if you need to have
            it repaired during the summer.

About CarMax

CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2008 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered inRichmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 90 used car superstores in 41 markets. The CarMax consumer offer provides our customers the opportunity to shop for vehicles the way they shop for items at other national retailers, and it is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and a customer- friendly sales process. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, we retailed 377,244 used cars and sold 222,406 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

SOURCE CarMax, Inc.