We all want our cars to last and no one wants to be stranded along side the road with a malfunctioning car or worse yet stalled in the midst of freeway traffic. You can avoid or minimize these calamities by doing the necessary maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's owner's manual.
Check your oil at least once a month. You should also plan to change oil and buy a new filter every 3000 miles. Be sure to use the recommended oil for your engine. You can find this information in the owner's manual. If however, you purchased a pre-owned car and there is no owner's manual, check with the dealer.
If you live in the Snow Belt you may need to use a different grade of oil in the wintertime. And if you are in an extremely hot climate, you may also need to change the grade of your oil. Again, the owner's manual will specify the proper grades to use.
When you do your monthly oil check, you also need to check the coolant and the transmission fluid.
It is important to maintain these fluids at their proper levels to protect your engine and transmission. And, just as with oil, you need to purchase the type fluid recommended by the manufacturer.
Don't wait until your gas tank is practically empty before refueling. There are sediments at the bottom of your gas tank. If you let the gas levels become low, these sediments will mix in with the gasoline. Then your spark plugs and some engine parts may become clogged. This can entail expensive repairs later on.
Check your battery cables and terminals to ensure you have a good electrical connection. It is also a good idea to always have a set of jumper cables with you. You can usually always find someone to give you a "jump" if you have the cables.
If you have purchased a new car, the owner's manual will advise inspections every so many miles. These are important to keep your warranty in effect.
You should also keep a record of all maintenance performed on your car. This record will help you when you get ready to sell or trade in your car. Prospective buyers are impressed by cars that have been well maintained and this adds to the value of your car.
It is also important to keep your car looking good. Appearance is a major factor when reselling or trading in a car. You need to be careful about parking under trees, particularly if birds are around. Bird droppings can cause paint damage so if a bird does choose your car for a deposit, clean it off immediately.
You need to wash your car often. Many gas stations offer free car washes with a fill-up so this isn't difficult to do. It just takes some extra time.
It is recommended that you wax your car a couple of times a year. This protects the paint from corrosion and also keeps your car looking shiny.
If you notice odd noises or smells, you may have a problem so you need to have a mechanic check the car. Failure to follow up on these can result in breakdowns, accidents and definitely more expensive repairs at a later date. Even if your car appears to be running okay, you should have a professional mechanic check it out once a year.
A little time and money spent on periodic maintenance can help you avoid expensive repairs at a later date.
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