Car Maintenance Basics You Should Know
Below is a car maintenance basics list that pretty much every car owner should know how to do. These tips will help keep your car running well, protecting your car from rust and fading, and more. These basic skills will really help you and your car, and if you are unsure how to do them, ask a friend to teach you. Or simply take them to a professional and let them handle your car maintenance!
Checking Oil and Changing Oil
Making sure you regularly check your oil is key to having your vehicle run properly. Make sure you are also getting your oil changed regularly as well. For the checking the oil, on the dip stick, you will see where the oil level needs to be. Make sure it stays in that area, and add oil as need be. Changing oil, you can find tutorials online to help walk you through, or take it in and let a professional handle this for you.
Check Coolant Levels
Make sure to find your coolant reservoirs and check to make sure they have coolant. Coolant is essential for an engine to stay running properly. Look at your handbook to find where your coolant reservoir is, as all vehicles will be in a different spot. Make sure your engine is cool before you check the levels.
Battery Clean
Make sure to look at your battery and make sure there is no corrosion or anything. If you see corrosion you can use a wire brush to gently wipe it away or even pour some coca cola onto it, and it will eat away the corrosion. When the battery begins to have corrosion build up it can make your car miss or not even start.
Headlight and Taillights
Regularly check to make sure your headlight and taillights are working. It is illegal to drive with a broken or burnt out light. Make sure your blinkers work as well. They are pretty easy to replace, just google how to replace headlight and then include make and model of your vehicle. You can find easy instructions online on how to repair.
Windshield Wipers
Make sure your windshield wipers are cleaning your windshield properly. Sometimes a film can build up and you need to use alcohol to wipe them off. Or if they are faulty or not working, it takes just a few minutes to unsnap and clip on new ones. If you need help ask someone to show you how to do it for future times.
Tire Maintenance
Make sure you are looking at the tread on your tires to make sure there are no bald or slick spots. Also check your tire pressure, as a low or over inflated tire can cause accidents when driving and even blow out your tire. If you don’t know how to change your own tire, see if someone can teach you. It is great to know so you don’t get stranded somewhere. Get your tires rotated at least every 6 months, if not more often if you travel a lot each day.
Washing Car to Protect Paint
Make sure you wash and wax your car regularly. The hot summer sun is a great way to help ruin the paint on a car. By washing and waxing your car it creates a protective cover, helping prolong the fresh coat of paint look on your vehicle, which helps with trade in value. Also, if you live in areas where it snows, wash it after each snowstorm. The salt they put down on the roads really hurts your car, make sure to wash really well in the wheel underside area.
Replace Air Filters
Air filters help keep the engine free from dust and other contaminants. Try to replace them every 30,000 miles or around once a year. Look at your car manual or find a tutorial online, this is a pretty simple process to do. Or take it in to get changed if you don’t feel comfortable
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