Your car is a major investment and is very important to you, because it gets you where you need to go. Because of that, you should be caring for and maintaining it properly, so that it stays in good running condition. Many accidents happen simply because car problems that don’t need to be there are in existence, even though they could be prevented simply by performing routine maintenance. You can do many of these routine checks yourself, too, and you can do many of them without having to have a lot of mechanical knowledge.
If you take good care of your car in this way, you’re going to make it last longer for you, too. You’ll also get better gas mileage, less in the way of exhaust problems, and extended tire life. Routine checks in your car will also mean that you’re going to be able to see small problems before they become big ones that could cost you a lot of money or even be dangerous. Keep up with your car’s maintenance schedules so that these problems can be detected and repaired. This will lower your car expense bills, too.
What should you be doing in order to maintain your car properly? Here’s a checklist:
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.
Flood levels for several different applications should be checked every week. Oil and brake fluid, power steering and transmission fluid, and radiator fluid, as well as your overflow tank, should be checked weekly. Windshield washing fluid, too, should be checked and topped off every week as needed.
Tires should be checked for proper pressure at least once a week. If your tires are under or over inflated, your car will be less fuel-efficient, and it could even be dangerous to you.
You can also inspect the amount of tread showing, the wear pattern, and also make sure there are no tacks or nails lodged in the tires that could be creating a slow leak. Take a couple of extra minutes to ascertain that the hub caps 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.
Keep an eye on your battery, especially the cables and posts. If you notice a build up of corroded material it can be cleaned off with a wire brush. Making sure that the connections are secure is an easy task and can mean the difference in a car that starts and one with a dead battery.
Windshield wiper blades should be changed at least yearly and should be inspected every month to make sure that they are still in good working order and don’t have cracks or other problems. You can apply a protective coating like Rain-X to your windshield every two weeks, to improve visibility when it’s raining heavily.
Do not forget to check your headlights, turn signals and tail lights at least once a week to make certain that there are no burned out bulbs. This is a preventive measure that can help you avoid accidents on the road.
It may seem like a lot to undertake: to follow a checklist every week to maintain your car well, but doing it on a regular basis will soon have it be second nature to you. And because you’re proactive in this way, your car is going to stay running well and in good repair for much longer, which means that it will perform well for you much longer, too.
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