It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a brand new car off the lot today or you are in the middle of a long-term relationship with a twenty-year-old clunker, staying on top of your car’s maintenance needs is the best way to not only get the most out of your car but to also reduce your annual vehicle-related expenses.
How Are Your Tires
A surprising number of people don’t give their tires a second thought when they are going through their car’s maintenance needs. That’s why so many people are driving around with underinflated tires. Get into the habit of checking your tires every single week. You’ll find that it only takes a couple of minutes. Set aside five minutes one morning a week and check the air pressure in the tires, if it’s not optimal, inflate them. At the same time, look at the treads and make sure they don’t show signs of wear.
Every six months, have your tires rotated.
Once you make good tire maintenance a part of your life, you’ll notice that your tires last longer and that your vehicle’s fuel economy improves.
Be Mindful of Your Oil
You won’t believe how much longer your car will run when you stay on top of your oil. Running low on oil can take a huge toll on your engine. Each time you check your tire pressure, pop your hood and check how much oil you have. If you’re low, fill it up, but be careful you don’t overfill it.
You also need to pay careful attention to when you require an oil change. If you want to extend the time between oil changes, use synthetic oil, it cost a little more at the time but allows you to drive a few thousand miles between changes.
Whenever you take your car in for an oil change, check out the filters and replace any that are dirty, damaged, or old.
Don’t Ignore Your Dash Lights
If one of your dashboard warning lights comes on, don’t cross your fingers and hope for the best. Yes, sometimes the issue is connected to the dash light and doesn’t need to be dealt with, but most of the time the warning light came on because there is something not right about your car.
Rather than hoping for the best, bring your vehicle in and have your favorite mechanic check it out. Not only will you get peace of mind, but the immediate repair will also save the damage from getting worse and potentially destroying your vehicle.
Tune-Ups are Important
Getting a regular tune-up is a great way to keep your car in perfect running order. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often you should get a tune-up. Follow its guidelines and pay careful attention to everything your mechanic tells you. Getting repairs done during a tune-up is going to save you a great deal of aggravation in the coming months.