How often do you take your car to get serviced? Probably quite regularly. You want it to run well and last as long as possible (and who wouldn’t).
It’s surprising how many people neglect their car or don’t know the right way to look after it.
Here are some essential car maintenance tips to keep your car to a great standard, as if it was when you first bought it.
Keep your tires in check
One of the most important things to keep an eye on is your tires. Tires play an essential role in your vehicle’s safety, performance and handling.
The more you know about them, the better off you will be when it comes time for maintenance or replacement.
Checking tire pressure regularly helps to ensure that your tires are properly inflated and reduces hydroplaning risk during wet weather driving.
Check pressure monthly when temperatures are between 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) and 80 degrees F (27 degrees C).
During winter months or if you live in a cold climate, check tire pressure more frequently because colder weather can reduce the effectiveness of some sealants intended to protect against leaks.
To check tire pressure:
Check your car battery regularly
The battery is often an overlooked part of your car, but it’s essential to make sure that you can get where you need to go. It’s important to check your battery at least once a year and make sure it’s in good working order.
If you have a battery tester, use it to test the performance of your car battery by checking its voltage. If the voltage is below 12.2 volts (or lower than what’s recommended by your owner’s manual), recharge it immediately; if not, replace the entire thing before driving on any long trips.
Don’t forget about your fluids
Don’t forget about your fluids. These are critical to the operation of your vehicle, so keeping them in good condition is paramount to ensuring that your car runs smoothly and safely.
There’s not much else to say besides this: make sure you check them regularly and keep an eye out for any signs of leakage because a lot can go wrong with a lack of attention to such things.
The fluids you need to keep an eye on include; engine oil (or motor oil), transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, coolant (or antifreeze), windshield washer solution (if you have one), fuel and windshield wiper solution (if these are separate).
Get your brakes checked
Brakes are one of the most important safety features on your car, as they can be used to stop your vehicle when needed. They are also used more than any other safety feature on a car, which is why it’s so important to get them checked regularly.
Here’s how brakes work: When you step on the brake pedal and begin to slow down, the pads in front of each wheel push against the rotors (the discs that spin) and stop your car from moving forward or backwards.
Braking systems use hydraulic pressure that is stored inside lines throughout your vehicle for this action.
The act of stopping takes place every time you drive—even if you’re only going 5 mph—and every time you come to a complete stop at an intersection or traffic light.
Wash your car inside and out
Wash your car at least every three months. We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve had to drive a dirty car for some time, and it’s not really pleasant.
You want your car to look clean, so take the time and effort to wash it thoroughly.
Use a bucket, hose, and quality car shampoo and wax products. Washing your vehicle with just water is not enough! You need soap to remove dirt and protect the paint against harmful elements like UV rays.
Use a soft microfiber cloth or sponge instead of paper towels to clean the exterior of your vehicle—they won’t scratch it!
Protect the exterior
To protect your car’s exterior, you’ll want to wash it regularly, wax or polish it at least twice a year and use a paint sealant every six months.
Protecting and maintaining your vehicle can save you money in the long run.
Regular maintenance can help to prevent breakdowns, which can be costly. If you’re not sure what to look for when inspecting your car, ask your mechanic.
A technician will be able to offer a few useful tips and techniques on how they inspect vehicles before they go into the shop.
It’s also important to make sure that all of the parts are working properly so that they don’t break down while driving or cause additional damage if something breaks down later on in the car’s life cycle.
It’s essential that drivers follow up with their regular maintenance schedule so that their cars stay running smoothly for years after the purchase date (or until someone else buys them!).
The best way to do this is by having professionals conduct these checks once per week. However, if you know what signs indicate potential issues beforehand, then it would be wise not to wait until something happens before taking action instead!
This content was originally published here.