Maintaining your car properly can help you avoid expensive mechanical repairs. It also keeps your car’s resale value intact.
A few simple checks like examining your windshield wipers, air filter and tire pressure can save you money. You can even save on your auto insurance by keeping your car clean.
Check Your Tires
One of the most important car maintenance tips is to check your tires regularly. A well-maintained tire improves the control you have over your car, increases fuel efficiency, and helps you maintain a safe driving distance. Keeping an eye on your tire condition will help you avoid costly repair bills and extend the life of your tires.
Start by checking your tires monthly, and make it a point to visually inspect them before you head out for the day or for a long trip. Look for any cuts, bruises, or bulges in the sidewall and tread area. If you find anything amiss, have it looked at by a professional to prevent further damage and prevent your tire from failing prematurely.
Another important tip is to rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or so. This will help them wear evenly so they last longer and provide you with a smoother ride. A professional can do this quickly and easily with the right tools.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a tire pressure gauge. You should use this to check the air pressure in your tires once a month, and especially before a road trip or when you’re carrying extra weight on your vehicle. Using the tire pressure gauge, remove the valve stem cap and press the gauge head evenly against the valve stem. Read the pressure and compare it to the recommended pressure indicated on the placard on the driver’s door jamb, in your owner’s manual, or on the tire sidewall.
If you find that your tires are low on air, don’t wait to fill them up. This can cause your tires to deflate while you’re driving, which is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road. If you’re at the gas station and you see that the valve stem cap is missing, ask the attendant to replace it as soon as possible to prevent moisture from leaking into the tire and causing pressure variations.
Inspecting your tires can also help you determine if your wheels are out of alignment or need to be replaced. Uneven tread wear may indicate an unevenly loaded axle, improperly functioning shocks or brakes, a bent wheel, internal tire damage, or worn bushings.
Check Your Oil
The engine oil is your car’s lifeblood, and checking it is one of the easiest ways to keep your vehicle in good working order. It’s a great idea to get into the habit of doing this regularly, especially before long road trips. Check the oil while the engine is cool; you’ll find a dipstick attached to your engine (check your owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to locate this) and simply pull it out and wipe it clean. Then, read the oil level on the dipstick; this will tell you if it’s time to change the engine oil.
Many cars have a service reminder that signals when the engine oil is due for a change, and some also come with a dipstick built into their engine. These can be helpful to help you get into the habit of checking your engine oil, but it’s still a smart idea to take care of this yourself every other gas fill up or every 1000 miles, depending on your driving habits. While you’re under the hood, it’s always a good idea to check other fluid levels and look for anything else that may need attention, such as loose belts or signs of animal nesting.
When your engine oil is new, it is a light to dark gold in color (depending on the thickness/weight). Over time, the oil gets dirty from the heat of the engine and the impurities that it picks up while running through the engine; this can make it harder to see the level.
The best way to avoid a seized engine is by keeping up with your maintenance schedule, which can be found in your owner’s manual. Using the right grade of oil (the recommended one can be found in your owner’s manual), changing the filter at the appropriate interval, and avoiding over-driving are just some of the things you can do to keep your car in tip top shape.
Check Your Brakes
The brakes are one of the most important parts of your car. Without them, it would be impossible to stop your vehicle other than by running into something, which could lead to expensive damage and potentially injure you or someone else. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your brakes and pay attention to any warning signs that they may be in need of maintenance or repair.
Brakes work by eliminating kinetic energy. When you press on the brake pedal, the hydraulic system in your car converts the kinetic energy into heat by using friction. This allows you to slow down and come to a complete stop, keeping you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe. Over time, however, the hydraulic systems and other parts of your brakes can wear out or become damaged. By following the simple tips listed here, you can ensure that your braking system is working properly and effectively.
Some obvious warning signs that your brakes are in need of repair or replacement include having to push harder on the brake pedal to slow down or come to a stop, feeling a pulsing or vibration when you use the brakes, and hearing loud grinding noises when you brake. Getting your brakes inspected and serviced on a regular basis can help you avoid expensive repairs down the road.
Another way to stay on top of your brake maintenance is to have your service center or dealership check them when you get an oil change or other basic car services. They will often inspect the brakes as part of a full car inspection and even flush the fluid, which can help you extend their life.
You can also do a quick brake check yourself to see how they are doing. With the engine off, you can squeeze the hoses to check for bulges or cracks, which indicate that it’s time to replace them. It’s also a good idea to regularly clean your brake pads and discs to keep them in the best possible condition.
Check Your Lights
Cars are the most expensive purchase many people will ever make, and maintaining them correctly can help extend their life. The most obvious advantage of regular vehicle maintenance is that it can prevent costly repairs down the road, which can be as simple as a new battery or as complicated as engine work. In addition, a well-maintained vehicle can often have a higher resale value.
New drivers are typically focused on driving the car safely and learning the rules of the road, but they don’t always think about the basic maintenance their cars need. Keeping up with simple things like windscreen wipers, oil and tyre pressure can make a world of difference to your car’s performance.
You should also learn what your car’s warning lights mean and how to address them. Your owner’s manual should provide a list of indicators and what to do when they light up. For example, the power steering and transmission fluid warning lights might indicate a leak that requires professional attention. Similarly, your coolant system warning light might signal that it’s time to add more coolant, which could be dangerous if ignored.
Finally, you should keep a bottle of matching touch-up paint on hand so you can touch up minor nicks in your car’s bodywork before they turn into more serious problems. If you notice rust, for instance, it’s important to get it touched up right away before it spreads and damages the metal.
It’s also a good idea to check that your tail light is working. Driving with a broken tail light is illegal and can quickly result in a traffic ticket, so be sure to replace it as soon as it goes out. You should also regularly inspect your headlights and turn signals to ensure they’re bright and clean, and look for any cracks or chips that need fixing. You can use red or orange tape that’s specifically designed for this purpose, and it’s available at most automotive parts stores. In the long run, this will be a much more cost-effective option than having to replace a cracked headlight or turn signal.