Your car is one of your biggest investments and something you rely on highly. For car enthusiasts, cars are like family members, and it is vital to maintain your car if you want it to keep running properly and performing well. This allows car owners to be aware of any problems that may affect the performance of the car during driving and solve them. These days, many people are keeping their old cars longer before trading them in or upgrading. It is more important than ever to properly maintain your car to maximize its lifespan and minimize repairs. Here are the simple tips you must know to extend the life of your car.
Refer to the Owner Manual
The purpose of the manual is to identify things you can and should do yourself, as well as warning signs for tasks that require professional help. This book usually sits in the glove box gathering dust. Take it out and read it - there are all kinds of car maintenance tips waiting for you inside. Your manual will tell you when the next maintenance is due. It is really important to stick to the recommended maintenance milestones. Before following the car maintenance tips, the first and most helpful guide for you is the owner's manual. You may even learn things you didn't know your car could do!
Here you can find item-by-item information about your car. If you want to know detailed information about your car, consider your car's owner's manual your bible. If you can't find a paper copy of this manual, you can go online and visit the manufacturer's website. You may find safety, child safety, keys and remote controls, specifications, fuel and refueling, driver assistance, car maintenance, etc. in the owner's manual. You'd be surprised to know that many of the problems you encounter, such as changing a flat tire, opening a locked door, or even installing a baby seat, can be solved by referring to your vehicle's owner's manual.
Don't Skip Oil Changes
When motor oil is dirty or old, it creates extra friction between moving parts, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the engine over time. That's why changing your motor oil is essential to keeping your car's engine running safely. Make sure you change your oil regularly, according to the schedule recommended by your owner's manual - usually every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Using old or dirty motor oil is one of the most common causes of car engine damage.
Keep a Check on the Tire Pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure over time can shorten tyre life, lead to early wear and even blowouts, and car tyres are one of the parts that keep your car moving. Check tyre pressure every two weeks, and if you don't already have one, buy a simple tyre pressure gauge - you can get one cheaply at a variety of different shops. It's important that your tyres have the recommended amount of air (or nitrogen), and these days you can check tyre pressure yourself using simple, inexpensive equipment. As well as a visual inspection, you can use these devices to check the outside of the tyre for cracks or stuck objects.
Check tread depth, the law requires a minimum of 1.5mm tread depth in a continuous band across the centre ¾ of the tyre and around the entire circumference of the tyre. Too hard? Most good tyre shops will check your tyre tread for free. Your tyres should be rotated every 10,000km, so they wear more evenly and last longer, and keeping your tyre pressures in line with your manual's recommendations will reduce tyre wear, improve fuel efficiency and save you money.
Keep it Clean
Wash and wax your car regularly to keep the paint intact, as letting dirt and debris build up inside and outside your car can cause excessive wear and tear on the surface. Remember to use cleaning products designed for car interiors to keep the interior in good condition and prevent problems such as cracked leather or scratched dashboards.
Check coolant level
Somewhere under the hood there is a clear reservoir for the engine coolant. Moving engine parts can get very hot and need to be cooled to avoid seizing. If this happens, you'll need a lot of money to get back on the road. The engine coolant reservoir is marked with high and low levels, check that the coolant is between the H and L marks and top up if necessary, check your manual for the correct coolant.
Keep the Engine Clean
While you can only do your best to keep the inside of your engine clean (for example, by using clean fuel), you should also clean the outside of your engine from time to time because your engine is the heart of your car and you need to take good care of it.
So why would you wipe off any dirt with a simple engine cleaner? Because cleaning your engine is important for identifying areas that need attention, such as leaks, leaks, and dirt and debris on the surface that can damage your engine.
Get Your Car's Fluids Checked
Keeping your fluids updated will reduce long-term maintenance costs and keep your car running well. Here are 6 essential fluids you should check at least once a month.
Engine Oil - It lubricates the moving engine parts. It's the most important fluid on this list! Check your oil at least once between oil changes. For high-mileage cars, it's not uncommon to add a quart of oil a few times a year between oil changes. Adding more may indicate a problem. Without the proper oil level, your engine may eventually stop working.
Power steering fluid - The power steering fluid should be checked at least once a year. It is usually located near the brake fluid reservoir. If you have to open the reservoir to check the level, wipe the cover with a rag so that dust does not fall into the fluid when you remove the cover. If the reservoir is clear, you can see the level inside.
Windshield washer fluid - Check the level frequently during the rainy and winter months and before long drives. You may use your windshield wipers more often than you realize, so check the level once a month. You can add extra fluid yourself as needed.
Automatic Transmission Fluid - It's still worth checking once a year to make sure your oil level is where it should be. Some cars have transmission fluid that lasts a lifetime and can go 100,000 miles or more without needing to be changed.
Engine Coolant - Also known as antifreeze, on many cars you can check the level by looking in the clear plastic coolant reservoir under the hood. Coolant keeps your car running properly in hot or cold weather. In older cars, you may need to remove the radiator cap when the car is cool. Some covers have a small dipstick to show the level. Antifreeze levels should be checked twice a year before the start of a hot or cold season.
Brake fluid - You'll usually find it in a clear plastic container on top of the master cylinder mounted on the firewall in front of the steering wheel. You can also easily check the brake fluid when you check the coolant level. The brake fluid should be checked every time you change the oil or at least once a year.
Windscreen wipers
Did you know that you are required by law to have a properly working windscreen washer system? Replace your wiper blades once a year to prevent stains. Keep your windscreen washer fluid reservoir filled and add a quality windscreen washer fluid to take care of those annoying insect splatters. Here’s a tip, pour some methylated spirits onto a rag and wipe along the edge of the wipers once a month. The methylated spirits will remove any contaminants that may have accumulated on the wiper blades.
Lights
For your driving safety, it's important to check all your lights weekly, so don't put off repairing your lights because it's hard to know when an indicator light doesn't come on or when a brake bulb has burned out.
Carry Out Battery Maintenance
You should know where the car battery is located, learn the basics of car batteries with the help of the owner's manual and the Internet (if necessary). In addition, you need to know how to safely disconnect the battery and clean the terminal contacts as needed, clean the contacts with the help of a brush that is safe for use on batteries and reconnect. This time, connect the positive terminal first. Occasionally cleaning the battery will help extend its life, remember to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery first, which will effectively cut off the power supply and reduce the possibility of accidents.
Choose a Reliable Car Insurance Company
To protect yourself from damages caused by accidents or natural causes, buying car insurance will provide you with financial protection. Here are some tips for choosing a reliable insurance company:
1) Choose an insurance company with good reviews and ratings: You can simply go online and check the ratings and reviews of a particular insurance company. You don’t have to rely on word of mouth to know the credibility of an insurance company.
2) Find an insurance company that offers the right insurance: Your insurance company can only help if the specific situation is covered in your policy document. The coverage of your car insurance policy is very important in case of a claim.
3) Quality of service: you can easily judge a potential insurance company by browsing its website and policy features. These simple questions can help you choose the right car insurance company: Does the salesperson fully understand the services provided by the insurance company? Are they keen to understand your needs or do they just want you to buy a random policy? Or are your doubts completely resolved before you buy the policy?
Let’s say your car has an accident. A reliable insurance company will settle the claim faster and more fairly, and there is a lot of damage to your car as well as other vehicles on the road. In such a situation, you need an insurance company that can act quickly and take over the situation.
