Regular care and maintenance are essential if you own a car and want to avoid car repairs as much as possible. Here are ten tips on how to do just that.
1. Ensure regular oil and fluid changes
Regular oil and fluid changes are a significant part of managing and maintaining the health of your car engine. Your car’s manual includes recommendations on how often you should change its oil. On average, you can expect that the recommendations state that you would need to do an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but other factors change that.
How often you should change oil and fluids depends on factors such as your car’s make and model, how frequently you use it, the type of oil it uses, and so on. That’s why some vehicles can go for more miles without changing oil, while others must do it more frequently.
The reason why you want to do this regularly is because it helps keep your engine running smoothly and helps maintain its fuel efficiency.
Aside from oil changes, you should also check the other car fluids. Some examples of the car fluids to check would be:
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Transmission
- Coolant
- Windshield washer fluid
- Differential Fluid
- Transfer case fluid
You should check your car’s fluids at least once every month, primarily if you use your vehicle daily. That way, you won’t be blindsided when your fluids are critically low, affecting the car’s performance entirely.
2. Scheduled regular maintenance
A regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle can ensure that everything is in top shape. Going to a reputable mechanic and building a relationship with them can help make this easier. However, you can also always ask them for tips on the more basic checks you can do on your car so that you can check it yourself.
It’s also easier if you work with local service centres for convenience. For example, visiting a Volkswagen Service Sydney provider is the best choice if you live in Sydney.
The ideal frequency of your regular maintenance schedules should be at least once every six months or twice a year. Some cars can go more than six months without a check, but regular maintenance habits can help prevent an issue before it worsens.
3. Ensure tires are inflated to the correct pressure
Keeping your tires inflated to the correct pressure ensures your car is easily handled. Aside from that, it also helps with better fuel efficiency and can make your tires last a long time.
You can use a pressure gauge to check that your tires have the proper pressure. However, lots of car owners can quickly tell if the tire doesn’t have enough tire pressure simply by looking. If the tire looks more deflated than more, people usually know that it’s time to get their tires inflated again.
You can find the correct tire pressure for your vehicle using your vehicle’s manual. Another reference is available on the door jamb at the driver’s door, where a sticker indicates the recommended tire pressure for each car tire.
4. Replace the air filters as needed
There are two air filters you should think about: the cabin air filter and the engine filter.
If you don’t replace your car’s engine air filters on time, residue and debris can block the filter. This issue can lead to odd engine noises, power loss, and poorer fuel efficiency, making your car emit dark and thick smoke. That’s why you must replace the air filters when you need to.
Conversely, not replacing the cabin’s air filters can lead to unpleasant smells and other unwanted airborne particles.
Your cabin air filters usually need to be replaced after 12,000 to 15,000 miles, which can become more frequent if you live in a polluted area. Engine air filters are typically replaced after 30,000 to 45,000 miles.
5. Regularly inspect your brakes
Your brakes are among the most vital parts of your vehicle, so regularly inspecting them should be a significant part of your car maintenance tasks. Doing a brake check on your car every six months or every time you rotate your tires is a great practice.
Brake pads can thin out, and the more aggressively you drive, the longer your trips are the more frequently you need to check them. Checking them every time you get your oil changed is a great way to track that.
Of course, if you start hearing noises every time you break or your car shudders every time you use it, don’t wait for six months. Have them checked immediately.
6. Pay attention to the engine’s performance
While your engine shouldn’t need frequent replacements like its oils and other fluids do, it’s still a good idea to pay attention to it. If you start hearing noises from it that shouldn’t be there or you find warning lights brightening up on your dashboard, don’t wait. If you leave your engine unchecked, then it can worsen whatever the issue is with your engine unnecessarily.
7. Ensure proper maintenance of your car’s battery
Your car battery should last you for a long time, around three to five years on average. However, if you don’t use your car often and you leave it in the garage for a long time, then that can cause your battery to degrade. If it degrades, then it might go flat.
If you have to jump-start your car, it can cause more strain on your battery and even damage your engine’s system and other electronics. Instead of having that happen, you should ensure you use your car and drive it at least once a week.
8. Replace spark plugs or high-tension leads
Spark plugs or high-tension leads are crucial to your engine’s ignition system. If they don’t work, they can lead to engine issues. Some signs that it’s time to replace them are rough idling, losing power when accelerating, or being unable to start.
You usually only need to replace them every 30,000 miles, but it depends on the car. Some need replacing every 18,000 miles, while others can go 100,000 without needing a replacement.
9. Regularly check and inspect belts and hoses
Another way to ensure your car runs smoothly is to check your belts and hoses regularly. They shouldn’t show any signs of tearing or cracking and shouldn’t be excessively greasy. Otherwise, your car can break down.
If you do your regular scheduled maintenance, the belts and hoses should be part of the inspection, so they shouldn’t degrade to the point where you can’t even start your car.
10. Maintain cleanliness both inside and outside of your car
While not directly related to car performance, ensuring that your car is clean inside and out can help you be comfortable and alert in your vehicle. Aside from that, less trash in and around your car will attract fewer pests from making your car their home.
Conclusion
By including these checks in your regular car maintenance routine, you can ensure a car that runs smoothly for years. Therefore, make sure you do your due diligence to have a car that will either work for years or that you can sell quickly.
