Did you know that nearly 30% of people ignore their check engine lights for a month or more in the United States?
Check engine lights come on for various reasons, some of them need to be addressed immediately while others aren’t as serious.
If you want to avoid seeing this light appear on your dashboard, there are a couple of things you should do.
Continue reading to discover the most important engine maintenance tips to keep your vehicle running!
1. Get Your Oil Changed
One of the most important engine maintenance tips to follow is to get your oil changed.
Most vehicles can go 3,000 miles until they need an oil change but if it has been six months, you likely need to get one anyways. Depending on how much you drive your vehicle and how new it is, you might be able to go a little longer between each oil change.
You must not skip oil changes, otherwise, it can make your vehicle run sluggish or have internal issues that cost a lot of money to repair.
2. Search for Leaks
If you want to keep up on your gasoline engine maintenance, you should always be looking for leaks.
Leaks are not a good sign, especially if you are noticing puddles under your vehicle. If you fear that your oil is leaking, you can also monitor the oil levels to ensure that it isn’t coming out too quickly. The only time it is okay to have a few drops of fluid escape is when exhaust fumes come out of the tailpipe.
3. Clean Air Filters
If you want great mileage and to keep your gasoline engine running properly, you need to swap out your air filters.
By using this air filter cleaner, you can rest easy and know that you won’t have any issues with air intake. Air filters get clogged from bugs, debris, water, and salt.
Skipping replacing them or cleaning them can affect your gas mileage and shorten the life of your engine. This is because the filter won’t be able to block out as much and the engine will get dirty quickly and lead to poor performance.
4. Don’t Run on Empty
Whether you have a diesel engine or gasoline engine, you should avoid running your vehicle on empty.
Try to keep a decent amount of gas in your car at all times. When gas levels become too low, the pumps can overheat and result in engine failures. Another reason you want to keep enough gas in your tank is in case you are out in the cold, where some of it could freeze and cause internal issues.
5. Replace Your Battery
Did you know that vehicle batteries deteriorate over time and can harm your engine and transmission?
Most professionals recommend changing your battery out every 3 years, or as needed. Although batteries can cost a bit of money, they will help keep your engine light from turning on and affecting other areas of the car. Old cars deal with battery issues more commonly than other vehicles.
With a new battery, your engine will be able to run efficiently and won’t be pulling excess power from other areas.
Keep Up with Your Engine Maintenance
One of the worst things that you can see when you get into your car is the check engine light.
The check engine light can signal the need for repair or replacement in many different areas. Having a professional look at your engine can help prevent you from causing further damage. Especially if you have been ignoring the light for a couple of days or weeks.
Always get your oil changes when you need them and keep up on other small maintenance needs to protect your car and engine.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about engine maintenance and how to keep your vehicle running!
