Want to be a true adult? Start taking care of your car like one. When your car looks good, runs great, and stays in good condition for a long time, you’ll feel great about yourself, and for good reason. After all, it’s not just anyone who can take great care of his or her car.
Right now, you might not have a clue. You know there’s plenty that can go wrong in an engine.
However, you don’t have any idea how to fix it. While we’re not proposing you do your own auto-repair, we are proposing you learn these simple tips for keeping your car in great shape. We promise you’ll feel pretty great about it.
Keep It Clean
If you’ve got banana peels all over the floor, cups hidden under the seats, and old gum wrappers floating around, then your car looks like a high school ride. Or worse, your parent’s car. Even if your car is on the dumpy side, it still deserves a clean interior and exterior. Take good care of your car and clean it once a month. Vacuum and dust inside, and get rid of trash. Take your car to the car wash and, if you find yourself the sufferer of paint overspray, pay to get it removed.
Change Your Oil
You should be changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. You can pay a mechanic to change your oil, but depending on your engine, it’s often easier to do it yourself.
Wait until the engine has settled (you don’t want a hot or shaken up engine for this) and replace your oil with a good quality brand. Synthetic oil is best for most modern vehicles; however, you should do research on your car before you choose an oil brand.
Get Your Brakes Replaced
Every 50,000 miles, your brakes need to be replaced. (Maybe sooner, if you brake like a maniac.) (Brake-care tip: don’t break like a maniac.) You should have a mechanic look at your brakes every time your car is in for something, so you know what kind of condition they’re in. The last thing you want is brakes that stop working, so make sure you’re on top of your brakes’ condition.
Take Care of Dents
You might have inherited or bought a junky car, but you still shouldn’t leave scratches or dents in it. You don’t want to be “that guy” driving up in a car that looked like it just survived an accident. Keep your car looking good, and contact someone like the folks who provide auto body repair services in South Beach, OR to get your car fixed. You wouldn’t leave the house with a giant Sharpie mark on your forehead. You should keep your car looking good, too. It’s what adults do.
If your drive responsibly and take care of these car details, you’ll have a longer-lasting vehicle and a better sense of pride in your car. Those road trips will be a lot better without the lingering scent of banana.
