A properly maintained vehicle pays dividends each year through lower repair costs, less frustration, and a longer life. For some reason, most drivers fail to do the simplest routine maintenance. Frankly, it’s baffling. If you don’t give your car the attention it needs, it will break down and cost more money in the long run. In this article, we take a look several car maintenance guide tips for taking care of your car, truck, or SUV. These are things that take a few minutes and can keep your vehicle running smoothly and more efficiently for years.
Regular Oil Changes
The simplest task is also one of the most important. Your car needs clean motor oil to run well. Whenever you turn the key and start the engine, the oil lubricates the parts, reducing friction and providing protection from overheating. Over time, the oil collects contaminants, growing dirty and turning to sludge. When that happens, it can’t circulate as easily. Change the oil every 4,000 miles to make sure it’s clean and flows well.
Check The Transmission Fluid
Just like the engine needs oil, your transmission needs fluid. While you’re driving, the transmission generates a lot of friction and heat. The job of the fluid is to bring the temperature down. When your transmission is operating as it should, it won’t consume the fluid. So, if you notice that the levels are low, that means there’s a leak somewhere. Furthermore, keep in mind that the heat produced by the transmission can cause the fluid to break down, turning its color from reddish to brown. If it’s brown, change it.
Check The Coolant
If you’ve ever seen white smoke billowing from under the hood, it usually means the radiator has overheated. Coolant keeps the temperature down. Under normal circumstances, you won’t need to change it. You just need to pop the hood, look at the level of coolant, and add more when it’s low.
Check The Tire Pressure
Even if you haven’t driven over nails or glass, your tires will lose pressure over time. Not only will that cause the treads to wear down more quickly, but you’ll get less fuel efficiency from your car. Buy a digital pressure gauge (they cost less than $20) and check your tires once a month. Your car owner’s manual lists the recommended pressure, so there’s no guessing involved.
At the minimum, you should be following the car maitainance guide listed above. If you do only those four things, you’ll find that your vehicle will last longer, perform better, and need fewer trips to the repair shop. And that means more money stays in your pocket. You can always ask expert mobile auto repair guy to visit your home or office and get all necessary check ups done at your own comfort.
