When it comes to taking care of a car, general car maintenance is vital. Once you buy a new vehicle, you want it o last for as long as possible.
It would be great if all you needed to do to maintain a car was put gas in it. Unfortunately, that’s not reality. A vehicle can deteriorate quite quickly if it’s not taken care of properly. With that said, take a look at the car maintenance tips below to learn how to protect your ride.
1. Oil Changes
Oil changes are an essential part of protecting your car. Without them, things can get ugly underneath the hood. When you go get an oil change, you’re usually told to come back in six months or within the next 3,000 miles.
However, you may be able to extend that length of time if you don’t drive your vehicle often. But if you do, you want to get your car serviced regularly for oil changes. The shop that you go to should put a sticker reminder on the windshield to help you remember when it’s time to come back.
Oh, and if you think you can skip oil changes, think again. The oil within the car is essential for the engine. Without a fresh refill of oil, it can lead to a blown head gasket or complete engine failure.
Trust us, getting those issues taken care of is more of a headache than routine oil changes. Not to mention, repairing an engine or head gasket is costly as well.
2. New Tires
You may be able to keep the same set of tires on your car for a few years. However, it’s important to pay close attention to them. Even if your tires aren’t flat, one of the most vital car maintenance tips is to check the tread on them.
When the tread on your wheels get too low, that’s dangerous. That means the tires on your car don’t have enough grip to safely roll on the road. As a result, there’s not enough friction on them for breaking or making certain moves with the vehicle.
If you notice that the tread on your tires is getting low, get new ones immediately! Bald tires are a safety hazard.
3. New Windshield Wipers
You may not consider your windshield wipers when thinking of general car maintenance, but they play a significant role. When it’s pouring down rain, you need windshield wipers that work well. If you notice that pieces of the wipers are peeling off or that they are not wiping the rain away, change them.
You don’t want to get caught in a storm and can’t see. Thankfully, changing windshield wipers is fairly easy. You can go to an auto shop and have a mechanic do it, or you can change them yourself.
The simplest and most cost-effective way to upgrade your wipers is to buy them from your local auto parts store and replace them.
4. Tire Rotation
Another aspect of general maintenance for a vehicle is rotating the tires. You may not have to do it very often, but it’s smart to do it every six months or every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Rotating your tires helps them to last longer and ensures that they wear evenly.
If you don’t get a rotation, you could run the risk of the front tires or the back tires degrading faster than others. As we mentioned earlier, bald tires are a safety risk. But by rotating them, you’ll have a greater chance of maintaining them for longer.
5. Car Washing
Washing your car is just as important as taking care of it underneath the hood. Your vehicle is always exposed to outside elements. There’s debris, bird poop, mud, and more that can make your car look filthy.
That’s why it’s critical to wash your car a couple of times a month. You may not have to do it that often. But depending on the environment that your car is in and the time of year, washing might be required frequently.
Another good method for protecting your car is getting it coated. By doing so, it’ll be more resistant to elements that generally cause it to become dirty.
If that interests you, follow the link to learn more about ceramic coating services.
6. Brakes
Generally, you should replace your brake pads every 10,000 to 20,000 miles. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you regularly check that there’s enough brake fluid in your vehicle. You’ll notice shaking or scrubbing if your brakes need to be changed.
But of course, you don’t want to wait until it gets to that point. If you take care of them regularly, you can avoid the hassle of your brakes completely going out. Faulty brakes are a major safety risk.
7. Renew Car Insurance
Believe it or not, car insurance is a part of general car maintenance. This is one of the most important car maintenance tips because there are a lot of consequences of not having insurance.
Most states require that you at least have liability coverage. Not to mention, if you were ever in a wreck, you’d want protection for yourself and your vehicle.
Car Maintenance Tips 101
As you can see, general car maintenance will help you keep your vehicle intact. If you follow the car maintenance tips listed above, you’ll have a greater chance of keeping your ride in good condition for many years.
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