Anyone who owns a new or used car has every plan to make the best of their vehicle. That involves keeping it in good condition for as long as possible, or at least so they can switch to a vehicle with more functionality and specifications, among other things. Yet many car owners simply do not manage out the preventive maintenance required to maximize their vehicle’s lifespan, and as a result, they encounter serious mechanical problems that could have been avoided.
To vent the virtues of preventive car maintenance is to claim that few people would disagree—after all, we all heard the old saying that one ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. And in fact, often individuals are having stuff slide. The normal human urge to hold on to their money is part of the issue, but preventive car maintenance does not really cost a substantial amount of money — and it pays off in the long run by averting more expensive bills down the road.
That said, we are left with the obvious question: What should be included in your preventive car maintenance plan? What exactly needs to be done to ensure your car stays road-ready? Here are several ideas that have proven highly successful in promoting good car safety. See also our recommendation on the best high-quality car armrest, the best comfortable car steering wheel covers, Tips to choose the best car wash near me.
Check Your Owner’s Manual
One of your car’s most important pieces of equipment is not under your bonnet-it ‘s in your glove compartment. We refer to the owner’s manual, which is full of detailed build- and model information about the car you ‘re using. Which type of fuel is recommended by the manufacturer? Could you use chains on your tires in snowy conditions without the warranty being voided? The responses to these and even other queries will be within the pages of your owner’s manual, so that’s all the justification you need to get to know it.
Check Your Tire Pressure
There is one topic that appears to be severely underestimated in its significance. Underinflated tires wear out more quickly than those that are properly inflated. Weak tire quality contributes to the poor gas mileage as well.
However, by the same time, you need to make sure the tires are not overinflated — that raises the chance of a blowout, which isn’t something you want to experience when you drive 70 mph down the highway.
You need to keep the tires inflated according to the specifications of the manufacturer. Because of that, it’s a smart idea to look at your tires once a month — or maybe earlier if you’re typically driving in harsh conditions. You should even purchase a tire pressure gauge to give you more specific details on what’s going on between your wheels.
Change Your Oil
For decades, car owners were bombarded with the message that they needed to replace their vehicle’s oil every 3000 miles or every three months, whatever came first.
The good news is that, generally, cars do not really need oil service quite as often. So, how often have you changed your oil? Everything this depends on the vehicle’s make and model. The response will be in the document that we told you earlier about the person.
However, for the most part, vehicles will get away with an oil change every six months or 5,000 miles — although, again, spending a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic or other rough road situations implies you can pull your vehicle in faster than that.
If you’re not sure how frequently you should change the oil, it’s best to stay on the cautionary side and bring it in early. Between changes, it’s a good idea to periodically check the oil to spot any problems that may develop, such as a slow leak that gradually depletes oil levels.
Change Your Windshield Wipers
It is not as critical as the other maintenance activities we mentioned, but achieving it is so easy and cheap that there is no good reason for not doing it.
If your wipers end up leaving streaks across the windshield then it’s time to replace them. Poorly working wipers pose a safety risk because they can not efficiently remove liquids and particulate matter from your windshield, impairing your visibility when driving.
Change Your Driving Habits
This is yet another example of a change requiring no mechanical knowledge of any kind. You need to start practicing sound driving habits if you want to minimize wear and tear on your vehicle. It means slowing down when you reach speed bumps and stopping excessive speed. Many drivers do not even realize that their car and its different components maintain greater wear at higher speeds, and over time this causes premature mechanical aging.
Change Your Timing Belt
If your timing belt fails while driving, you may be in for some serious repairs — not only will you need to replace the belt, but you may need to fix other damaged components due to its sudden failure. Consult the owner’s replacement schedule manual. In general, you would expect the belt to be replaced after 60,000 miles or so.
Change Your Engine’s, Air Filter
The air filter is another component in your owner’s manual whose maintenance schedule will depend on the recommendation of the manufacturer. Bear in mind that frequent driving in harsh conditions, such as dirt roads, will clog up your air filter fairly quickly, and consider a replacement earlier than scheduled if this is the case with you.
Fill Up the Engine Coolant
Coolant is the liquid that is responsible for preventing the engine from melting off excessive heat when in use, and this is not anything to be overlooked for obvious purposes. One of the dangers you need to watch out for is a leak that drains your engine coolant slowly until your temperature gage suddenly climbs up quickly into the red while you’re on the way to the shopping mall.
Check under the vehicle as much as possible to see if any fluids leak. You should have a look at your reservoir and under your radiator cap when you’re at it and make sure you have an adequate amount of coolant. For certain times when you’re running a little small, it may be a smart idea to have some 50/50 coolant (available at any car supplies store).
But whatever you do, be sure you don’t check your coolant while your engine is still hot — the fluid could easily scald you.
Check Your Battery
A dead car battery is nobody’s idea of fun, as anybody who has been stranded at the side of the road can tell you. Luckily, many auto shops offer battery testing at a pretty reasonable price. This is a helpful way to detect battery issues before you get to the stage that you’ll have to wait for a tow truck. Auto batteries will be checked every four to five years as a guideline, and if it is within that age range, you need to keep an eye on it and be ready to purchase a new one.
Final Thoughts:
If you own a car or planning to buy a new one, to get the best performance or driving experience, keeping it in good condition plays a key role. We’ve covered the best tips to keep your car in good shape.