A car is a huge investment, and this being the case you need to take care of it. When you see all of the accidents that take place on the road, did you ever think about how many of them might just be caused by ill maintenance policies? It's not hard to do routine checks on your car, and guess what, you don't need to be a mechanic!
As you set aside some time and take the proper effort to take care of your car, you will find that you get a lot more life out of it. In addition to that you will enjoy better gas mileage, extended tire life, and avoid more problems overall. When you do the routine checks, they tell you about small problems that could become big problems. This will save you a lot of money down the road!
Listed here are a couple of tips which you can utilize in the care of your vehicle:
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 need to be changed periodically. Some cars require that these be changed out every 3000 miles while some other manuals will allow longer times between these changes.
Each and every week play it safe by verifying the fluid levels. Brakes, oil, transmission, radiator, power steering, all of these are important to keeping your car on the road. In addition to these fluids, always check to make sure you have an adequate amount of windshield wiper fluid.
You should check your tires once a month, though you should really check the tire pressure once per week, making sure that they are within specifications. If they are low, then your vehicles is not operating at it's maximum fuel efficiency.
In addition, make sure that you have enough tread left. There could also be tires or tacks lodged, and this may cause the tire to leak. Always make sure the tires are nice and neat! Then you will want to make sure that the hubcaps are on tight and the lug nuts are fastened securely.
Tune ups should be performed as part of your car's routine, scheduled maintenance. Problems with spark plugs or fuel injectors can lower your gas mileage up to 35%. Many people try to postpone a tune up, especially if the car appears to be running fine. However it is only when you take it in to the garage that the engine can be thoroughly inspected for any problems or misfiring.
Chassis lubrication is yet another necessity, which goes for any car. This will help to make the suspension operate as it was intended. Chassis lubrication are actually done by many different shops.
Make sure that you watch the battery carefully. Look at the cables and the posts, and get rid of any corrosion hat you might come across. Fortunately corrosion can usually able cleaned off by using a wire brush. Also make sure they are held on securely.
Change your wiper blades each end every year. It's not uncommon for them to develop cracks that will interfere with their functionality. To avoid not being able to see on rainy days, use Rain-X on your windshield.
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.
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.
Author Resource:
Two dealership videos from TopSeekInc: Sacramento Chevy and Honda Sacramento
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