Are you looking for car maintenance tips for your car? So, it can run for longer. The days of putting gas in the tank and driving your car are long gone. Today’s cars are made to be coddled, with computers and engine parts practically designed to break down on you and leave you stranded. There are a few ways you can keep stay ahead of break downs, though.
Here are fifteen car maintenance tips designed to keep your car running longer. Read on:
1. Car Oil changes
This is one of those car maintenance tips we grew up knowing, but it is a vital part of keeping your car up and running. Depending on your car’s age, the time for an oil change could be 3000 miles, for older model cars, and up to 10000 miles for newer vehicles.
2. Tire rotations
One way to keep your car running smoothly (quite literally) is to have your tires rotated every six thousand miles or so. This will ultimately save you money. Your front tires will wear out faster than your rear tires, for instance, and changing them from front to back will allow all the tires to wear more evenly. Your tires will need to be professionally balanced to keep them all running in sync after being rotated.
3. Top off fluids
Fluids will usually stay in the car and be recycled over and over, but on occasion, you may develop a leak or the fluids may evaporate. Check fluid levels every so often and make sure your oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and radiator fluids are where they need to be. Also, for your own safety, make sure the windshield wiper fluid is full; nothing is worse than needing to use the fluid and finding you have none. It’s easy to forget some car maintenance tips, like this one, when your car seems to be running well
4. Change the windshield wipers
Windshield wipers will wear out, especially if you have been using them to clean the frost off of your windshield all winter long. Wipers aren’t expensive, and experts say that they should be replaced twice a year, for instance, spring and fall.
5. Keep your car clean inside and out
When you think of car maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly, keeping it clean doesn’t seem that important. Sure, a clean and shiny car looks nice, but it is also a way to keep your car’s structural integrity intact as well. Wash off all road salt in the winter and keep it waxed to help protect it against rust and damage from the sun. Keeping your car clean inside will prevent stains on the seats and carpets.
6. Change car air filters
Your air filter will clog up over time, hurting the performance of your engine and stripping some life from the car. Make sure you replace the filter at least once per year or every 12,000 miles. This is a car maintenance tip you can do yourself.
7. Check your belts
The serpentine belt and the timing belt are two biggies that should be watched. Change these out before you are left stranded on the side of the road.
8. Know your brakes
This is one of those car maintenance tips that can save your life. Your brakes will give you lots of warning as they begin to wear. From intermittent “misses” as you are slowing down to unmistakable squeals and grinding noises whenever the brakes are applied, this is your brake system screaming for help. The routine maintenance of brakes could include replacing shoes and pads, adjusting the calipers, and adding brake fluid.
9. Be a better driver
Your car’s wear and tear reflect your driving habits. Driving carefully will save your brakes and increase your gas mileage. The best car maintenance tip there is has nothing to do with the car, and everything to do with the driver. Be the best driver you can be, and your car will last forever.
10. Cover the car
You don’t need to have a garage to keep your car protected. There are commercially available car covers that are a snap to use and will protect your car’s exterior from the elements, as well as protecting the car’s interior from fading in the sun.
11. Listen to your car’s heating or cooling system
Your car’s air conditioning system may not be working as efficiently as it could be. It may need a “charge” of coolant, or replacement of hoses and fans. The car engine itself may be having problems keeping itself cool. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge; this is one of those car maintenance tips that will cost you a lot of money to ignore.
12. Remember your spark plugs
Your engine’s spark plugs can become dirty or worn out. If your spark plugs begin to fail, your car’s efficiency will be affected. Spark plugs are supposed to be changed every 30,000 miles. Put this on your list of routine car maintenance tips to be addressed in an annual tune-up.
13. Clean the exterior of the engine
Keeping your car’s engine clean is important for the efficiency of the engine as well as for accessing parts of your engine whenever needed. There are commercial engine cleaners designed to get your engine looking shiny and clean, but this is more than just an ego boost. Even a small amount of road debris in the wrong place can result in engine damage over time.
14. Don’t forget your lights
Your headlights will grow dim over time and need to be replaced. Even worse, lights that are burnt out can get you a hefty warning from a traffic cop or, even worse yet, contribute to an accident. One of the easier to forget of all the car maintenance tips on this list is to check your lights and signals to make sure they are in good working order.
15. Use good gasoline
Each car has its own octane rating for peak performance and engine care. If you have a newer car, but the price of high octane makes you dizzy, try taking the middle grade instead. There are also engine additives you can pour into the gas tank to keep your engine running smoothly.
Today’s cars are made to last, but they may take some extra TLC to keep them running at peak performance and efficiency. Following these car maintenance tips can help you keep your car running smoothly for many more years to come.