Car Maintenance
When learning to drive, there should be more focus on the upkeep of your vehicle. One big part of staying safe, while on the road, is keeping up with the maintenance of your car. Not only does taking care of your car keep you safe, but it also preserves the value of your car for much longer. Here are eight regular maintenance suggestions to preserve and protect your vehicle, from CB Automotive.
Replace Wiper Blades
You never want to find yourself driving in a rain or snowstorm with crappy wiper blades. It’s recommended to change your blades every six to twelve months. Here are some things to pay attention to. Warmer climates will cause damage at the rubber of the blades more quickly. And colder climates, where cars are exposed to more salt and ice will wear down blades sooner as well. When rain or snow begin smudging rather than clearing your window, you will know it’s time to change your blades.
Regularly Change Oil
Oil lubricates the vehicle’s engine and protects the moving parts from heat and friction. As time passes, and the oil continues to rotate through the engine, it begins to break down. As the oil breaks down it is unable to fulfill its job. The owner’s manual will be able to tell you how often to change your oil and replace the engine filter.
Keep Up with Tires
It is important to rotate your tires and check alignment regularly so they don’t wear too fast. It’s also important to check tire pressure; under and over inflated tires are more prone to tire blowouts, which can be life threatening. Correct tire pressure will also help your fuel economy.
Check your Battery’s Charge
Regular battery charge tests will alert you to a dying battery before you are stranded. A properly working battery will receive better gas mileage and release fewer chemicals into the atmosphere.
Replace Worn Brake Pads
Sudden stops wear heavily on brake pads. Brake pads experience high amounts of friction. When brake pads become thin they cause damage to other parts of the car. It is recommended that brake pads be changed every year to keep you safe.
Regularly Replace Air Filter
When your engine is running the air filtration system is cleaning the air of any contaminants and debris. Over time this will cause the air filter to become clogged. This causes the engine to work extra hard, decrease fuel economy, and cause inefficiencies. The debris can make its way into the engine and wear down parts of the car. It’s usually recommended to replace the air filter every six thousand miles, or with every other oil change.
Check Hoses and Belts
The constant heat emitted from a car can dry and crack belts and hoses overtime. The belts move different elements of an engine around while the hoses carry fluids from one part to another. If these parts cannot do their job effectively than damage will be done to your engine.
Replace Old Spark Plugs
When spark plugs aren’t working properly, there will be damage done to the engine and your vehicle will start to have problems. The spark plugs allow for a controlled explosion that provides energy and power to the vehicle. It is wise to check and replace spark plugs regularly.
A common theme between each of these separate tips is to check things out regularly. If you continue to check parts regularly and replace them as needed your vehicle should stay in great condition and keep you safe on the road.
Recent Comments