Your car is a major investment which means it deserves proper maintenance and care. Many accidents on the roadways are due to lack of preventive vehicle maintenance on the part of the owner. It is easy to perform many routine checks on your car, and you do not have to be a world class mechanic to handle them yourself.
When you take the time and effort to care for your car you will extend the life of the vehicle. There are some other bonuses that you receive including better gas mileage, longer tire life and fewer automotive exhaust problems. You should also note that routine checks alert you to small problems before they have time to become expensive headaches. Early detection and prompt repairs of automobile problems will generally keep any repair costs low.
Here are some top tips to remember that will help you give your car the best care:
Begin with the basics. Check your car owner’s manual and follow the recommendations concerning oil changes, tune-ups and other routine maintenance tasks.
Oil and oil filters should be changed as needed, or about every 3000 miles, for most cars. Some cars do allow more mileage between changes, so check your owner’s manual.
Check fluid levels for several different applications weekly. Check your oil, brake fluid, transmission and power steering fluid, overflow tank and radiator fluid every week. Check to see that you have enough windshield washing solution or water every week, too. Take a few minutes to top off any fluids that are low.
Tires should be checked at least once a month but it is best to check the inflation pressures once a week. If you are driving around with tires that are under-inflated you are losing valuable fuel efficiency.
Check tires for wear patterns, the amount of tread you have left, and any cracks; also make sure no nails or tacks have been picked up that could be causing you to have a slow leak. Make sure his well that hubcaps and lug nuts are securely fastened.
Perform regular tuneups for scheduled maintenance on your car. Problems with fuel injection or spark plugs can reduce gas mileage by as much as 35%. A lot of people do try to postpone tuneups, especially if the car appears to be running okay, but this is a mistake. Taking your car to a professional mechanic means that you can have your engine thoroughly inspected for any problems that may not be apparent yet.
Make sure your chassis is regularly lubricated as well. This means your car’s suspension is going to remain optimal. Usually, the shop that changes your oil will also perform chassis lubrication as part of the service.
Your battery’s an important part of your car and of course can’t run without it. Make sure you keep a watch on it, especially the posts and cables. If you notice corrosion building up, you can clean it off with a wire brush. Connections should be secure; failing to do these checks can mean you end up with a dead battery, which of course is something you don’t want.
Windshield wiper blades should be changed at least once a year and should be inspected monthly to see that they don’t have cracks or other problems. A protective coating like Rain-X applied to your windshield every two weeks will improve visibility during heavy rain.
Check your headlights, too, as well as tail lights and turn signals, once a week. Replace any burned-out bulbs, because this can cause you to have an accident or other problems.
If you will follow these tips concerning car maintenance you will soon notice that the checks become second nature. A little pro-active care for your car can keep your vehicle looking better, performing better, and you will also be able to keep it on the road longer.
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