Maintaining your car properly is crucial for keeping it on the road. For those car owners who do not spend a lot of time under the hood, car maintenance can seem like an intimidating task, but it does not have to be. There are basic ways to help keep your car running in peak condition for a long time.
Taking care of your car is an important part of owning it and even if you do not know the complex things that go behind car maintenance, there are simple things you can do to make sure that it is well maintained and in concrete running condition.
Here is a checklist of 6 car care tips to help you maintain your vehicle:
- Fuel Filter: This is a part that is often overlooked even though it is vital. If you own a fuel-injected car, its fuel filter more or less continuously works whenever your ignition is on and the fuel pump is actively functioning, preventing the injectors from getting clogged up by impurities. So, over time, you will need to get it replaced. Locations vary from the undercarriage or beneath the hood to inside the fuel tank itself. Since systems are regularly pressurized, which means that it is necessary for fuel lines to be safely crimped, you should consider letting a technician handle the job.
- Power-Steering Fluid: When it comes to your calendar for car-part replacement, there is nothing as easy as the task involving your power steering fluid. Still, you should give it proper consideration, since it is the part that lubricates the system and ensures that the steering feels consistent. Take a look at the reservoir or the dipstick inside to periodically check the fluid. Always make sure that you add only the type of fluid suggested by the manufacturer and consult a technician if you find that the level had dropped considerably, or if you feel resistance when turning the wheel.
Battery: Car batteries receive proactive attention very rarely. Even if you make sure that your terminals are clean and your charging system is working fine, you will eventually need to replace the battery. When the time comes to do this, it is critical that you do it right. At the very least, you should use only the battery that matches the specs provided by the manufacturer. You should consider making an upgrade to batteries that are technologically advanced, offsetting a higher initial cost with more consistent performance and an extended life.- Air Filter: Most car owners do not think much about their car’s air filter, but it deserves better and should have a place on your car part replacement calendar. The air needed for your engine and airflow sensor should always be free of contaminates and that is what your air filter is for. You should be aware of the manufacturer’s recommendations when it comes to replacing components related to airflow, such as the oxygen sensor and PCV valve if you have them in your car.
- Automatic Transmission Fluid and Filter: In cars with clutch-less or conventional automatic gearboxes, transmission fluid plays a role in the transmission that is as essential as the role oil plays in the engine in terms of function. It prevents friction and ensures that parts are within operating temps that are safe. If you ignore it, the result will be expensive repair bills from the mechanic. Fortunately, prevention is easy. You should make sure that you check the fluid at regular intervals, top off with the type that is specified in the owner’s manual and change it occasionally with the filter.
- Spark Plugs: There cannot be an internal combustion engine if there is no combustion. Combustion happens when spark plugs fire up the mixture of air and fuel in each cylinder, either in a pair or alone. Engines that burn cleaner and advances in plug construction mean that you do not have to maintain them often and they provide extended service, but you will still have to get them replaced. Whether they have reached their mileage limit or not, spark plugs, as well as the plug wires, could be the cause of poor fuel mileage, a poorly running engine, and an emissions test failure.
Battery: Car batteries receive proactive attention very rarely. Even if you make sure that your terminals are clean and your charging system is working fine, you will eventually need to replace the battery. When the time comes to do this, it is critical that you do it right. At the very least, you should use only the battery that matches the specs provided by the manufacturer. You should consider making an upgrade to batteries that are technologically advanced, offsetting a higher initial cost with more consistent performance and an extended life.As you can see, there are quite a few things you need to do to make sure that your car is well maintained. The fantastic news is that these checks are not difficult – they are just routine. You can save a lot of money by maintaining your car well and ensure that it runs smoothly on the road for a longer period of time.
Make periodical checks and if there are big issues that you do not know how to solve, take it to a professional. But remember, there is nothing like taking care of your car to avoid major repairs and expensive mechanic bills.
We all know you would rather have extra money to save, to spend on another flat screen, save up for new paint job on your car, be able to go out to a nice restaurant a couple of more times but you cannot do this since you just had to write a $1,115 check to your mechanic for something you could have done a few times in the past 15 months. If you do not want to experience this feeling, this is something you need to put in your schedule.