Keep your car in good condition

Anyone who buys a new or old automobile intends to get the most mileage out of it. This includes, among other things, maintaining it drivable for as long as possible, or at least until they can upgrade to a car with more features and capabilities. However, many car owners simply do not do the preventative auto maintenance required to extend the life of their vehicle, resulting in major mechanical issues that could have been prevented.

Few individuals would disagree with the benefits of preventative automobile maintenance—after all, we’ve all heard the old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Many individuals, though, let things drift in practice. Part of the issue is the obvious human desire to save money, yet preventative auto maintenance is inexpensive and pays off in the long run by avoiding more costly costs down the line.

After that, the obvious issue remains: What should your preventative auto maintenance program include? What precisely must be done to keep your automobile roadworthy? We’ve put up a list of tips that have been shown to be quite beneficial in ensuring good automobile health.

Before we go any further, it’s important to note that you don’t have to find out how to do most of these operations on your own (though the budget-conscious car owner who doesn’t mind getting their hands filthy could). Many of these services may be completed cheaply by your friendly neighborhood auto technician. Taking your automobile to the shop may cost you a little money, but as we previously stated, failing to undertake maintenance activities can cost you considerably more in the long run. The very worst option is to just disregard their instructions.

Check Your Owner’s Manual

One of your car’s most vital components is located in the glove box, not under the hood. We’re talking about your owner’s handbook, which contains detailed information regarding your vehicle’s make and model.

What type of gasoline does the manufacturer suggest? Is it possible to install snow chains on your tires without voiding the warranty? The answers to these and other queries should be found inside the pages of your owner’s handbook, which is why you should familiarize yourself with it.

Check Your Tire Pressure

This is a problem whose significance is sometimes overlooked. Tires that are underinflated wear out faster than those that are properly inflated. Tire pressure is another factor that affects gas mileage. However, you must ensure that your tires are not overinflated since this raises the possibility of a blowout, which you do not want to encounter when driving at 70 mph down the highway.

Keep your tires filled according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. As a result, inspecting your tires once a month—or even sooner if you drive in very difficult conditions—is a good idea. A tire pressure gauge may also be purchased to provide more exact information about what’s going on within your wheels.

Rotate Your Tires

While we’re on the subject of tires, you should rotate them at least once a year. If you’re not sure what this implies, tire rotation entails removing each tire and replacing it in a different spot, such as alternating the left and right tires. The goal is to guarantee that the tires wear evenly over time, extending their lifespan.

Change Your Oil

Car owners have been told for decades that their vehicle’s oil has to be replenished every 3000 miles or three months, whichever comes first. The good news is that, in general, automobiles do not require oil service as regularly as they once did.

So, how frequently should you replace your oil? It all depends on your vehicle’s make and type. The solution should be found in the owner’s manual we mentioned previously. Cars can get away with an oil change every six months or 5000 miles, for the most part, however, if you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic or other difficult driving conditions, you should bring your car in sooner.

If you’re not sure how often you should replace the oil, it’s advisable to be safe and bring it in sooner rather than later. Between oil changes, it’s a good idea to check the oil for any growing problems, such as a slow leak that progressively depletes oil levels.

Change Your Windshield Wipers

Another alteration that doesn’t need any mechanical understanding is this one. If you want to keep your car in good shape, you should practice safe driving behaviors. Slowing down when you approach speed bumps and avoiding excessive speed are examples of this. Many drivers are unaware that driving at greater speeds causes their automobile and its numerous components to wear down faster, resulting in premature mechanical aging.

Change Your Timing Belt

If your timing belt breaks while you’re driving, you might be in for a lot of trouble—not only will you have to replace the belt, but you might also have to repair other components that were damaged by the failure. Your replacement schedule may be found in your owner’s handbook. As a general rule, the belt should be replaced every 60,000 miles or so.

Change Your Engine’s Air Filter

Another component whose maintenance schedule is determined by the manufacturer’s recommendations in your owner’s handbook is the air filter. Keep in mind that regular driving in severe circumstances, such as gravel roads, can quickly clog your air filter, so if this is the case for you, consider replacing it sooner than expected.

Fill Up the Engine Coolant

Coolant is the fluid that keeps your engine from melting down due to excessive heat while it’s running, and it’s important to keep in mind for obvious reasons. A leak that slowly drains your engine coolant till your temperature gauge swiftly rises into the red while you’re driving to the shopping mall is one of the threats you should be aware of.

Check underneath your vehicle on a regular basis to determine if any fluids are leaking. While you’re at it, check your reservoir and behind your radiator top to make sure you have enough coolant. If you’re running short on coolant, it’s a good idea to keep some 50/50 coolant on hand (available at any auto supply store).

But whatever you do, don’t check your coolant while your engine is still hot—the fluid may quickly scorch you.

Check Your Battery

Anyone who has been stuck on the side of the road knows how unpleasant it is to have a dead car battery. Fortunately, many auto shops provide battery testing at a reasonable cost. This is a wonderful technique to detect issues with your batteries before you have to pay for a tow service. Car batteries should be replaced every four to five years as a matter of thumb, so if yours is approaching that age, keep an eye on it and prepare to buy a new one.

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