If you are a car owner, then this blog post is for you! Many things can potentially go wrong with your vehicle if it isn’t properly maintained. If you want to keep your car running smoothly and save money in the long run, here are seven simple tips that will help.
Why Is Vehicle Care And Maintenance Important?
Buying a vehicle is a major purchase of a lifetime, especially for first-time owners. Once you have your dream car in your garage, the next thing you’ll have to worry about is how to care for it to make your purchase worthwhile. Every vehicle owner should learn proper care and maintenance practices to make the most out of the car’s lifetime.
Moreover, here are other specific reasons why car care and maintenance are important:
- Saves you money from spending larger and more costly repairs.
- Saves you time and gives you convenience as there are fewer chances your car may break down during an important situation.
- Maintains your car’s fuel efficiency, thus lowering your fuel costs.
- Improves your safety down the road.
- Preserves your car’s value even after years of use.
Along with following simple car care and maintenance practices on your own, it’s also crucial to get your vehicle checked by a reliable auto service provider regularly. For instance, the following car components need short-term check-ups from your provider:
- Tire pressure and tread depth
- Oil and coolant levels
- Tire rotation
- Vehicle wax
- Oil and filter
- Air filter
- Brake and turn signals
- Headlights and parking lights
Then, make sure to add these long-term checkups into your planner so you won’t forget them:
- Transmission fluid
- Spark plugs
- Coolant fluid exchange
- Shocks and struts
- Transfer case fluid
- Front and rear differential
- Serpentine belt
Lastly, depending on the season and driving conditions, check the following parts of your car seasonally:
- Inspect battery performance
- Check coolant levels
- Replace tires, particularly during snowy months
- Replace windshield wipers
1 . Check the oil level every time before you start driving and add more as needed.
Try and make a good routine, at least once a week, to check the oil level and add more if needed. It’s an essential step for keeping your car running smoothly.
2- Make sure tires have enough air pressure by checking them regularly.
This is a step that is always missed. You can check your tires at any time by using an air gauge.
It is also really crucial to ensure that the tire pressure is correct for different conditions you may be driving in. Cold temperatures will require a bit more air, while hot and humid weather will need less air due to heat rising from the ground.
3- Clean headlights often to avoid getting pulled over or having an accident due to poor visibility at night.
Some fantastic products can help here, such as Meguiar’s Headlight Restoration Kit and Armor All Original Clear Plastic Cleaner.
These products will help you clean (and restore, if needed) the headlights; they’ll also make them look new again with a glossy shine!
This is an essential step because many drivers neglect this simple task.
4. Keeping on top of your cars maintenance schedule is a must
Make sure to follow the vehicles manufacturer’s guidelines to get maximum performance and avoid expensive repairs.
To keep your vehicle’s performing at its best, you’ll need to make sure it has regular maintenance checks and that your replacement parts as required. A good rule of thumb is every 12 000 km or 12 months (whichever comes first).
Talking to Sovereign Motor Engineers, they said, “not just servicing schedule it is important that you follow the mileage-based service checks, like 4×4 certain vehicles will need there diff oil changed based on miles, so these little things are key to look out for”
5. Don’t let any minor issue turn into a big one
If you find fault with your car, take it to a car garage ASAP as this fault could lead to more expensive problems if left unattended.
If you notice any warning lights on your dashboard, be sure to take it in for repairs promptly. Even a tiny and manageable issue can turn into something much worse without prompt attention. SME said “this is so common, they hear a small noise coming from their brakes, leave it until it gets worse. When they turn up to our car repairs garage in tonbridge, they end up having to have brake discs and pads because the pads are too low and damaged the discs”
6. Keeping the car clean
Yes, you will need to get your bucket out more regularly, but maintaining your vehicle is a lot easier when it’s not covered in grime.
We recommend using a garden hose with cold water to clean the dirt off, then once dry, use an all-purpose cleaner and cloth to wipe down the car body for maximum effect.
7. Drive your car gently
The more you drive your vehicle, the less fuel it will use, but don’t overdo it.
It might be tempting to push your car when trying to make a deadline or get home fast so that you can start working out how to fix your broken down vehicle, but pushing too hard could cause even more problems in the long run. You want to cruise around everywhere, and this will reduce long-term damage to your car as you are not putting unforeseen pressure on your vehicle.
Bottom Line
Have you been neglecting your car? If so, don’t worry. It’s not too late to try to turn things around and start caring for your vehicle the way it deserves to be cared for. You can save some good money in the long run by following these tips that will help keep your car running smoothly. Start today! What has been the one thing you learned from this blog post that helped inspire a change in how you care for your vehicle?
