Do you love your car? You should! After all, it gets you to and from work every day. But as much as we may care for our vehicles, they’re not perfect. That’s why there is a list of 7 essential car maintenance tips that will help get you through the year with more ease. These are simple things like checking tire pressure and oil levels that can save you time and money in the long haul. Keep reading to find out what these 7 essential maintenance tips are!
1-Check your tire pressure regularly
Checking your tire pressure can be a quick and easy thing to do that could have a big impact on the safety of you and those around you. Under-inflated tires will wear faster, struggle with uneven terrain (especially in colder weather when they become more brittle), and may even lead to blowouts or accidents. It’s recommended to check the pressure of all tires about once a month. Otherwise, seek help from a Heavy Tow Truck Service.
If you drive your car to the gas station, make sure you check their air pressure as well and adjust accordingly. Make it a habit! This is one of the easiest ways to avoid any kind of accident or mishap that can happen because of improper tire maintenance. It’s also wise not to inflate your tires more than the recommended amount because this can lead to increased wear and tear.
The tire pressure should typically be between 30-34 psi, but it will depend on what kind of car you have! Check with your manufacturer if you’re still unsure.
2-Keep the windshield washer fluid tank full
This is a simple step that will help keep your windows clear and free of any obstructions. It’s important to maintain the washer fluid so it doesn’t freeze in cold weather, which can be damaging or even lead to cracking windshields from ice buildup as well. The idea here is that since you already need to check your tire pressure, just check your washer fluid levels too.
You may need to top off the container with a few gallons of water, depending on how much you use and what kind of car you drive (for instance, some have larger tanks than others). Try not to run this type of liquid down so low that it’s empty either!
If you have a rear-window wiper, it’s important to check that too. This is fairly common for these wipers to freeze up in cold weather and not work as well or at all!
3-Replace old spark plugs with new ones to improve fuel efficiency and engine performance
Spark plugs have been around since the 1930s, and they are still used in cars today. They’re crucial for converting the fuel you put into your car’s engine to create a spark that sends an electric charge to ignite it and release energy (making them so important). As such, these essential pieces of equipment need to be replaced periodically because they wear down over time.
Spark plugs are usually designed for a specific kind of engine, so it’s important to find the right one before purchasing them in order to make sure they work properly and help your car run smoothly. The best way to do this is by looking at instructions from your manufacturer or researching online what type of spark plug you need for your car.
It’s also important to note that spark plugs usually last anywhere from a few months to around 60,000 miles before they need to be replaced depending on the make and model of the engine as well as how often you drive it (fuel efficiency).
The best way to ensure this happens is by getting them checked at each oil change. This way you’ll know if they still need to be replaced and can take care of it while the engine is open for inspection.
4-Use a car battery charger if you’re not using your vehicle for an extended period of time
A car battery charger is a device that will charge your vehicle’s battery while it’s not in use. It comes with cables and plugs for different models of cars, so you can just hook up one end to the post on your battery terminal and then plug it into an electrical outlet (or even a power grid if available). This way when you want to start your car, the battery will already be charged and you won’t have to worry about it at all.
In some cases, this is a good option if you’re going on vacation for an extended period of time or just want to save money in general since they use electricity from the grid rather than gas.
If you do choose to do this, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your car battery charger in order to avoid any issues.
Car maintenance is more than just changing a tire or topping off washer fluid levels (though these are also things you should be checking!). Doing some of these simple tasks can, not only help with safety but fuel efficiency as well.
5-Fix any leaky hoses or loose connections that could lead to gas spilling out
Fix any leaky hoses or loose connections that could lead to gas spilling out. If you have a fuel line connection, always make sure it’s tight and sealed before starting your engine!
Consider taking the time now to check for leaks around your car if these tasks seem daunting – they’re something everyone should be checking on regardless of how often they use their car.
6-Get regular oil changes at a service station
Get regular oil changes at a service station and make sure you use the right type of fluid for your engine. As an example, some cars have larger tanks than others so it’s important to check how much you’re using and what kind of car you drive before deciding on which filter to purchase.
Some people may be tempted to cut corners when it comes to their oil, but this is a big mistake. If you don’t have the right type of engine or it’s not changed regularly, there may be damage done that can lead to car troubles like leaks.
In addition, some oils are better than others for your specific needs (like if you’re using synthetic instead of regular). Checking the manufacturer’s instructions or the label on your engine can help you find what type of oil it prefers.
Finally, if you’re going to be changing your own filter at home for any reason (like if a service station is closed), make sure that the replacement looks like yours in order to avoid mistakes and damaging your car – there are usually pictures or diagrams on the filter itself for this purpose.
7-Get an annual inspection to make sure everything is in working order
Get an annual inspection to make sure everything is in working order and that you don’t have any hidden problems. This way, if there are any issues or possible car troubles they can be found before something major happens like a brake line leak or worse!
Even though this may seem like an expensive option for some people at the time of purchase, it’s much cheaper than the alternative. For example, a radiator replacement can cost as high at $600 and take around two hours to complete while an inspection would only be about half that time with significantly less expense!
These are just some of the most commonly overlooked car maintenance tasks – there may also be things you do on a regular basis that can be considered car maintenance (like checking tire pressure).
