Maintenance tips for your car.
A dependable vehicle is a necessity for almost anyone, as it allows you to do all the important things in life like taking kids in for a check up and to go back and forth from work. But if you don't take good care of you car so its always ready to do your bidding it may break down and leave you in a lurch, so give it a bit of tender loving care every now and then.
If you drive a fairly new car you can often purchase maintenance contracts and sometimes they are offered free as part of the purchase. This is a good solution as it keeps the critical components of your car ready to go at all times, Such maintenance is usually done on a regular schedule specified in the contract and most often includes things like oil changes, replacement of spark plugs and other parts, checking your brakes and suspension, flushing out your radiator, and all the other things that have to be kept up on to ensure your care serves you well for years.
If you drive a used car, regular maintenance is even more important, but normally either you or your mechanic will have to keep track what needs to be done and when.
For any one that would rather not undertake even the most simple maintenance your mechanic is your best friend. A good mechanic who you have established a realationship with will often notify you ahead of time so you can make scheduled maintenance appointments at your convenience. But there are some things that should be checked regularly and which every driver should do himself.
Check Fluids.
Monitoring your brake fluid, power steering, engine coolant and oil levels is important and can help you avoid a damaged engine. With automatics you should also check the transmission fluids at the same time as the oil and coolant. With newer cars all fluids should be checked once a week and with cars that are older or seem to be "acting up" they should be checked even more often. It can be pretty embarassing to have your car overheat in the middle of the freeway during rush hour when a simple addition of some water before you left home is all that was needed to prevent it.
Oil and Filter Changes.
Oil changes are a messy chore best left to those with the proper equipment, but they should be done on a regular basis. Depending on the oil you are using your oil change interval can range from 4,000 to 15,000 miles between changes. Check with your mechanic on which oil is the best to use in your car. Above all don't neglect to change your oil filter when you change the oil (or if you have been driving in harsh conditions, even before you change your oil. Oil does not wear out, it simply becomes contaminated to the point that its not as effective as when new.
Change the Air Filter.
How often you need to change your air filter depends on where you live and how you drive your car. Air filters are normally very easy to remove and replace, but if they become clogged the will not be able to pass enough air to the engine for optimum performance and fuel economy.
If you live in a dusty area you should pay special attention to the air filter and the connecting piping, as dust bypassing the filter and entering the engine can reduce your engines life.
Your Cars Tires.
Your tires are the only connection between your car and the road but they are too often neglected. First of all make sure that you buy tires appropriate for your car, the conditions you drive in and your driving style. Put the temptation to buy those cheap tires on sale behind you, buy the best you can afford as your tires are a key component in your vehicles safety system.
Making sure your tires are inflated properly will give you better gas mileage and a better ride. Check the tread to make sure that your tires are wearing evenly and have plenty of grip left. Uneven tread wear is usually a sign of improper inflation or suspension problems.
Tire rotation on modern radial tires is not recommended, even though this used to be a requirement for the old cross ply tires. As an example of this modern BMW owners manuals do not recommend that you rotate your tires, so relax on this point and save yourself a few dollars.
Tune Ups.
Modern cars have a regular schedule for the necessary tune ups and maintenance checks - they may even have this programmed into the cars computer with a visual disply of what is needed and when. Don't neglect these as they can save you fuel cost as well as maintaining your cars new performance. Tuneups used to be something that any shade tree mechanic could do, but these days car engines are computer controlled so you are more likely to see a technician in white coat doing your tune up than a regular mechanic, though most modern day mechanics can hold their own on a computer, too.
Belts, Batteries, Hoses and Other Things.
Belts and hoses should be looked at when you check the fluid levels in your engine. Modern high performance engines can be quite sensitive to broken or leaking hoses so get these fixed as soon as you spot them. If any of the belts look worn you should have a mechanic look at them and replace them as required.
Batteries do wear out, but the more expensive batteries tend to last longer. Buy the best battery that you can afford and make sure it is of the rated capacity for your car or truck.
A good relationship with a mechanic will help you when it comes time for minor repairs. A good mechanic who has your interests at heart can often tell you when something needs to be replaced before it breaks and initiates an expansive repair.
