Are you looking for car protection tips?
The average car age in the United States is 12 years. If you want your vehicle to last longer, maintenance is a must. It ensures every component is in peak condition, preventing others from deteriorating.
However, regardless of your vehicle handling experience, you might have no idea how to start maintaining a car. Fortunately, we can help. Read on as we discuss ways on how to take care of a car today:
Keep Maintaining a Car Simple
You’ll likely know someone with a ridiculous number of miles with their car. On the flip side, another person could break their vehicle within the 100,000-mile mark. The difference between the two vehicles goes beyond their make and model.
In most cases, the consistency of maintenance schedules plays a vital role. Following a routine allows your car to keep going for a long time. It applies even when the process is simple.
Check and Change the Oil Regularly
When protecting your car, ensure its engine runs smoothly for a long time. Consider checking your oil levels at least once every month. Doing so allows you to determine the amount of oil your car consumes.
The knowledge can help detect potential problems before they occur. A more specific frequency is every 3,000 miles or three months. However, the recommendation isn’t as current since motor oils are now more advanced.
Before, oil left in the crankcase for extended periods will degrade. It often results in a sludge buildup. Fortunately, today’s motor oils aren’t as easy to break down.
Engines also went through a lot of modifications over the years. Now they can run without as much maintenance. Nowadays, changing your oil every 5,000 or 7,500 miles is possible.
Regardless of your maintenance schedule, consider some factors. For example, are you doing a lot of stop-and-go driving? If so, consider changing your oil more frequently.
Every car has varying needs. Ask your local repair shop to have a better grasp of their requirements. Fortunately, over 250,000 auto mechanic businesses exist in the United States.
Change Transmission and Differential Oils
Checking and replacing transmission and differential oils aren’t as frequent as engine oil. However, the general rule is to do this maintenance task every 30,000 miles. Look into your owner’s manual to determine the recommended frequency for your car model.
Changing differential fluid isn’t necessary when you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle. It’s because these vehicles’ differential is in the front. As such, they share it with your transmission.
Rear-wheel drives have differential oils in the back. Meanwhile, four-wheel-drive cars have three—in front, at the center, and the back.
Regardless, changing the differential oil should happen around the same time as your transmission oil change.
Flush Cooling Systems and Change Coolants
Maintaining the cooling system is easy since all you need is to check every other time you change oils. It means doing this task at least twice every year.
When checking your coolants, it doesn’t mean changing them. You can get away without changing for two to three years. An alternative is every 24,000 or 36,000 miles.
Driving in hot temperatures will often cause you to change fluids more often. Use a half coolant and half distilled water mixture to prevent corrosion. Do it every year to keep your cooling system in peak condition.
Check and Change Your Brake Fluids
The brakes are one of the most vital parts of your vehicle. After all, this feature allows you to avoid collisions and other road incidents. Your brakes will take care of you as long as you focus on maintaining them.
Regularly check your brakes and change the fluids whenever necessary. Brake fluid attracts moisture, causing a lot of issues. The most common ones include corrosion and rusting.
When you skimp on maintenance, the brakes will fail in the long run. Replace brake fluids annually to avoid losing brake effectiveness. Doing this allows you and your passengers to stay safe.
Clean Your Vehicle
Most people vacuum and wash their cars regularly, but it’s often surface-level. Transporting a car on the streets means encountering unsavory things on the way.
For example, your car can get dirty because of grime or winter salt. Your car’s underside often suffers from these abuses daily. As such, consider periodically hosing off this part to get rid of harmful debris.
Wax Regularly
Your car’s aesthetics matter a lot. As such, wax your car regularly to maintain its appearance. The frequency varies, but consider waxing every six months or once a year.
Do you feel obsessed with your car’s appearance? If so, doing this task every three months is reasonable. It’s the best way of protecting car paint and preventing other cosmetic damages.
Regardless, consider investing in high-quality wax to make the most out of its appearance.
Protect Your Car from the Weather
Extreme weather conditions can damage your car’s performance and appearance. In most cases, the biggest culprits are cold and heat. These circumstances will often wreak havoc on your vehicle’s components.
During the bitterest of the cold winter days, consider using a covered parking area. Your garage should have enough insulation to protect it from the cold. Never let the snow cover your vehicle since it damages your car paint and freezing internal components.
Hot weather can be as damaging to your vehicle. The interior plastic and exterior paint often melt when the temperature is hot enough. As such, avoid putting your car directly under the sun.
Consider glueless transport film when you’re storing your car for long periods. These products are heat-resistant and can last for almost six months.
Learn How to Take Care of a Car Now
These are some ways on how to take care of a car. Your vehicle is one of the most expensive investments around. Use these to ensure longevity while keeping maintenance costs down.
However, finding a reputable auto repair shop is also necessary. Look for online reviews and recommendations to find the best one for you.
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