Your car takes your family to and from work, vacation, sports practices, and school. A well-running vehicle makes having busy days and weekends with your family easier. Keep your vehicle running well and avoid expensive breakdowns with regular maintenance.
Change Your Oil and Filters Regularly
Oil filters, air filters, and cabin filters can all become clogged over time. This can cause increased wear on the engine, poor gas mileage and ineffective A/C due to restricted airflow. Whenever the oil gets changed, make sure that the oil filter is changed as well. Cabin filters and air filters can also be changed as a part of regular servicing; however, doing it yourself is simple and can help you save some money. Oil and filters should be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles unless you are using synthetic oil which should last 10,000 miles. Air filters and cabin filters should be changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or more often if you drive in very dusty conditions.
Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Low tire pressure can cause your tires to wear out prematurely and drastically reduce your gas mileage. Typically tires are kept at 32 psi but some tires require higher or lower pressure. The proper pressure for your vehicle should be listed on the sticker on the driver’s side doorpost.
Top Off Your Fluids
It’s a good idea to check your vehicle’s, oil, transmission and brake fluid, and coolant regularly. If the fluid gets low, it can have serious consequences, such as a seized engine or a vehicle that overheats. Keep extra fluid in a safe place in the trunk of your vehicle and top it off according to your vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. You will also need to replace windshield washer fluid on an as-needed basis.
Spark Plugs and Fuel Injectors
Modern sparkplugs and fuel injectors last much longer than they used to, but so do vehicles. You may not think about changing them but as they wear your fuel economy will begin to suffer so replacing them at the recommended intervals will save you money on gas in the long run and keep your vehicle in tip-top running condition.
Keep the Battery Charged
It can be incredibly frustrating to try to start your car only to find out your battery is dead. Not driving your vehicle for extended periods of time, especially during periods of extreme cold, can make your car difficult to start. Extremely cold weather can reduce the starting capacity of a battery during very cold weather, so consider using a trickle charger or battery heater to keep your battery at full capacity during winter months.
Care for Your Windshield
Dings and small cracks in a windshield can impair your vision while driving and increase your risk of being involved in a car accident. Windshield replacement when these chips and cracks become hazards is the best way to clearly see the road and other vehicles around you. Don’t put your family at-risk; take care of your windshield as soon as a ding or crack occurs.
If caught very early, small chips may be able to simply be filled in and repaired. However, if they are larger or show any signs of growing, a replacement will be necessary. Often your car insurance will include glass coverage so you can get a replacement at no charge to you.
Air Conditioning
The freon refrigerant gas in your air conditioning system should not leak out over time. If it does simply refilling it will only last a short time before it leaks out again. Operating your A/C when the system is low on freon can cause permanent damage to the system. If your A/C isn’t getting cold take it to a professional and don’t let them just replace the freon, instead have them locate and repair the leak as well.
Don’t get stranded with your family because of a broken down vehicle. Keep up on regular maintenance and log each type of maintenance that you do or have done. This can help you keep track of what needs to be done so that you won’t forget any needed maintenance. With regular maintenance, you can keep your vehicle running well for your family for a long time.
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