If you bought your car new, then you probably have fond memories of that day you drove it home in pristine condition. Is your car still looking and performing like it did when you drove it off the lot? If you use your car for your daily commute or regular long distance trips, but don’t keep up on regular maintenance, your trusty workhorse could slowly degrade into an unreliable junker. Here are some tips on keeping your car running like new.
Follow the manufacturer’s service schedule. This is really the main rule that defines all the rest. Your owner’s manual will show you exactly what you need to do, and how often. It’s up to you whether you do this work yourself — you’ll need tools and some basic mechanical skills — or take your car to professional, but either way, it’s important to get all the maintenance work done right and on schedule. Failing to follow this one tip could result in a breakdown, leaving you stranded, or worse.
Check your tires, and keep them inflated. Under-inflated tires will result in a few different problems. Your tires will wear down quicker, and you’ll get poor gas mileage. Even worse, your car won’t handle as well, which could put you at risk of an accident. Whenever you approach your car, take a look at the tires, since you can visually inspect them for sagging where the tire meets the road. This is a clear sign of under-inflation. Whenever you’re inflating your tires, also be sure to never exceed the PSI specifications, because over-inflation could cause a blowout. It’s a good idea to keep a tire gauge in your glove box.
Keep it clean. Road grime, winter salt and other buildups on the exterior of your car will cause degradation and reduce the luster of your body-work like paint and metal surfaces. Don’t forget to clean your windscreen regularly too. After washing your car, apply a wax coat for extra protection — or better yet, have the staff at the car wash do it for you.
Check the fluids, and change them on schedule. Oil and coolant are two fluids to check regularly, and change according to your manufacturer’s specifications.
Change the timing belt, air filter, fuel filter on schedule. These parts are cheap and easy to change, but if you run your car when they’ve gone bad, the damage could be extremely expensive. If your timing belt goes out while you’re driving, for instance, not only could your engine seize up and cause a wreck, but repairs could cost thousands of dollars.
Check your battery. If you see corrosion buildup on the terminals, or if you’ve ever drained down your battery by leaving the headlights on, it may be due for a replacement. Keep in mind that your battery will need to work harder in winter.
Doing all this maintenance work yourself isn’t too difficult. Not only will it save you some money, but you can ensure that the job is done right. Unfortunately, not all mechanics or service stations are scrupulous, and people have had to sue a mechanic for negligence when work wasn’t done right.
