We love our cars. Nothing beats the freedom we feel when we hop in and drive our cares away. We need a vehicle that is safe and reliable—and looks good too. There are many options for car buyers these days. We can buy cars online and at dealerships. We can get 84 month auto loans and just the right auto insurance to help us get the car of our dreams. Once we have our vehicle though, we need to take care of it.
Car troubles are a common occurrence during the hot summer days and winter. But even if you’re not suffering from car trouble, it’s essential to look after your vehicle to lengthen its lifespan. You can do certain things for your car to help prevent problems and keep it running for another few years.
Innovative Ways to Take Care of Your Car
1. Wash your car every three weeks
Washing your car avoids the build-up of harmful salt and dirt that can get into the bodywork, tires, and engine. This stops mineral deposits from building up at the bottom of your engine, which attracts moisture, leading to corrosion. A simple wash regularly will prevent this.
2. Check tire pressures regularly
The tires on our vehicle need to be at the correct pressure so they are neither overinflated nor underinflated, which could lead to damage and poor fuel economy. A loose tire or two will not cause any problems, but overinflated tires are a significant cause for concern since they are prone to pinch flats.
3. Check and tighten all nuts and bolts
If there are many loose nuts and bolts on your engine, causing it to shake, rattle and rattle while you drive. Tighten all these every time you change oil, as they can cause severe damage to your cars, like a loose exhaust gasket or transmission mount that’s not holding up.
4. Use the right gear
If you’re constantly shifting between the high gear and low gear of your car, this may cause wear on the gears themselves, eventually leading to sticking or slippage in these gears. This is a pervasive problem with automatic transmissions because they allow more slips than manual ones.
5. Check fluid levels regularly
Don’t wait until your car is overheating or it makes strange noises before you check its coolant level, oil level, and other fluids. If these are low, you risk damaging your car or losing control which could lead to an accident. Always have a spare bottle of coolant when driving in extreme temperatures, as this will prevent the car’s cooling system from freezing if the pressure drops.
6. Check for leaks
Check for coolant leaks with a dye-filled leak test, as this will tell you if you have a small radiator leak or if there is a severe problem that needs sorting out. You should also check for oil leaks at regular intervals, as this could cause lubrication problems in the engine itself, which can lead to overheating and early wear of parts.
7. Use your air conditioning sparingly
The air conditioning uses a lot of power which means more fuel is used at all times for the engine to produce enough power for the additional load put on it. If you’re trying to save money on gas, cut back on using your air conditioning.
8. Change oil and filter
Changing the oil in your car regularly will prevent it from wearing out and help it run efficiently. It will also prevent damage from dirt build-up by removing this from the engine, as well as any moisture that may cause damage to the engine’s delicate parts like its bearings or seals in the gaskets of your engine block.
9. Wax your car
You don’t need to wax your car too often, but it will protect the paintwork by preventing rust and corrosion. Waxing also makes cleaning much easier as the dirt is wiped off in the water.
10. Get your car serviced regularly
A visit to the mechanic at least once every three months will ensure you don’t have any significant problems with your car, and more importantly, it will keep it safe on the road.
11. Use winter tires in winter
If you’re driving in an icy area, then the best option is to use winter tires with a more complex rubber compound that grips far better than summer tires. However, it’s essential to factor in how much snow, ice, and slush is on the road, as your tires will wear faster in these conditions than every day.
12. Check the condition of your wipers
A good set of wipers will help keep you dry in bad weather, but if they are not kept clean, then it could lead to problems with road grime and grit backing up inside, which could cause wear on the blades and rubber rings underneath them. Look at buying new replacements when needed.
Research has shown that carrying out these simple tasks will significantly increase your car’s life expectancy and help it run more smoothly. You should get a feel for proper maintenance by regularly performing these checks. Never be afraid to ask someone for help if you don’t know what’s wrong with your car.
And as always if purchasing your new vehicle, make sure you get a full reg check to see if your vehicle has ever had any major issues.
