Vehicles are a huge part of any person’s life. Without a vehicle for the things we enjoy, it would be impossible for us to do anything with the time left. Taking care of your car and keeping it in proper running condition requires a little effort. Knowing the basics about what your car needs and how to keep vehicles in good condition so they last as long as possible. Like many people don’t know that many cars have a cabin air filter in the passenger, which gets dirty after many years and needs to be replaced. Maintaining your car maintenance can be a real drag. Even if you don’t have the funds to fix a broken vehicle, you’ll still need to pay off your auto loan, insurance, and other expenses. But paying a little bit here and there to keep major repairs away is worth it.
Here are some car maintenance tips to help you avoid expensive bills down the road:
Keep Your Fluids at a Good Level
Keeping your fluids at an optimum level is one of the best tips for car maintenance to avoid costly car repair expenses. Perhaps most important are your engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant.
Without these vital fluids, your car’s vital systems can break down completely. Your brakes may break or stop working, your steering may wear out, or your engine or transmission may fail altogether. Be sure to check your car’s manual to see how often you should change and shut off your fluids to avoid costly car maintenance services.
Check Tire Pressure
You should make sure that the air pressure in your tires is correct, especially when the temperature changes. In the summer, your tire pressure can rise to dangerous levels as the air expands. The reverse happens when it is cold. Checking your tire pressure at each oil change will extend the life of your tires and avoid costly car repairs. Taking care of the health of your tires is also good for your bank account, as it makes your car more fuel-efficient and you spend less on gas.
Keep The Battery Clean
Rust (which looks like a white or blue powder) can build up on the terminals of your battery. If you don’t keep them clean, the batteries may crack or fail to function properly, leaving you stuck. Since a quality car battery can cost over $100—and tow can run you even more—buying a $5 wire brush and sharpening the terminals is well-spent money. Be sure to test your battery twice a year and inspect it for corrosion.
One for Security
Don’t underestimate the indicators and tail lamps, they are as important as the headlamps. Tail lamps, brake lamps better reflect your presence on the road and indicators make your turn clear to fellow road users. If one of these lamps is broken and defective, have it checked at your local workshop.
Stay Up-To-Date with your Battery and Filters
No matter what type of battery you get, it will eventually die. You should start checking your battery life when you are three years old.
You should also make sure that your air filters are kept in good shape. There are two main filters in your car: the engine filter and the cabin filter. These filters keep your engine and the air entering your cabin clean. If these filters get too dirty, dirt and debris can get into the engine, causing damage to your car and costly car repairs.
Go Too Easy On Your Air-Conditioner
Your car’s air conditioner can eat up a lot of gas, especially if it’s set on high during hot summer days. To take care of your vehicle, try turning off the air conditioner if you don’t need to use it. Older vehicles just last longer. According to an article in 2015 in USA Today, that the number of vehicles that are at least 25 years old on the road is about 14 million.
Buy Used Parts
Many auto recyclers will remind you that all the parts in your car have been used. But, many parts rarely go bad, making used parts almost as good as new – just a lot cheaper. Body trim and interior items such as radio knobs and rear-view mirrors are examples of parts that make sense to buy used. Rebuilt engines and transmissions can also be good buys and usually come with a warranty. A good mechanic can direct you to reliable sources for these parts.
Wrap Up
Car maintenance doesn’t just mean hiring a guy to clean your car every morning (not that it’s not a good habit), but small details like tire pressure and engine oil level. Can make or break longevity. Regular checkups provide the best way to catch problems before they turn into bigger problems. You need to check the car manual to know the exact period for scheduled maintenance service.
