With the extreme climate of Anchorage, investing in a four-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle is a smart decision, but be advised that these cars may need additional maintenance compared to rear-wheel or front-wheel drive cars.

Alaska Spring & Performance has been keeping drivers safe in Anchorage for more than 50 years with their expert auto repair and maintenance services. Here, they discuss three reasons why your four-wheel drive vehicle may need more frequent scheduled maintenance than other types of cars:

• Fluid Replacement: With heavier vehicle weights and the ability to navigate roads smoothly in wintery conditions, four-wheel drive vehicles are the beasts of the road—but this comes at a price. All four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles have a transfer case which is a component not present in two-wheel drive vehicles. The transfer case along with the front and rear differentials require regular fluid changes to allow them to function smoothly.
• Tire Safety: It’s important that all your tires have equal tread depth. Combining a new tire with worn tires of lesser tread depth can cause the four-wheel and all-wheel-drive systems to unevenly wear drive train components and cause these systems to malfunction. That means even if only one of your tires has been damaged or needs replacement, your mechanic will recommend that you replace all four tires at the same time.
• Vehicle Wear & Tear: Due to the wear and tear, climate, and road conditions of Alaska, it is important to understand the physical toll taken on your vehicle by the state. Your four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles require at minimum an annual inspection of all serviceable or wearable components, that include C.V. boots, bearings, u-joints, drive train fluids, and seals. By having this annual inspection done it will help to avoid the unexpected break down due to overly worn components.

If you own a four-wheel drive vehicle, don’t delay scheduling your next maintenance check. Call (907) 563-3802 today to make an appointment with Alaska Spring & Performance, or visit their website for more information.