Regular Car Maintenance Extends Life of Your Car

With the cooler weather starting to quickly be upon us, car maintenance is one thing that we tend to forget about. But this quick checklist should get you ready for any season. It is very important to remember as you are going from hot to cold or vice versa to keep your car properly maintained. Here is the checklist.
- Check your tires. Make sure that you have the correct tire pressure in each tire. It is also a good idea to take it in to check the alignment of your tires as well. Check the treads on your tires as well if you can’t see any treads at all, it is time to get new tires.
- Check your oil. Mechanics battle back and forth about what is the correct mileage count for changing your oil and oil filter. But everything I have read suggest that anywhere between 7,500 to 10,000 miles would be good. My husband normally checks ours at the 10,000 mile mark. Not sure how to check the oil yourself, here are a few tips. Let the car run for a few minutes, park on an even surface and then check the dipstick. If the oil is a clear, golden color than the oil is good. If it is black or brown it is dirty. Check the dipstick to make sure that the oil hits the mark that is etched on the dipstick. Too low add more oil. It would also be a great habit to get into if you start to check your oil before any long trips.
- Check fluid levels on coolant, transmission differential, power steering and brakes. Now would be a good time to get a transmission flush. Regular transmission flushes can enhance the function and extend the life of your transmissions. A mechanic needs to do this. They hook it up to a machine which removes the old fluid and replaces it with new. As I was researching, I found this company, Allstate Auto Experts, based in Dallas and their helpful website.
- Check your hoses and belts. Make sure that there are no cracks, leaks, or loose connections that will leave you stranded on day. If your belts look smooth or slick, it needs to be replaced.
- Change your air filter every 12,000 miles. Clogged air filters can lower fuel efficiency.
- Replace your windshield wipers. That is one thing we do all the times. When replacing, it is better to replace the whole blade than just the rubber parts. If you are unsure what blades to get, auto parts stores should be able to help.
- Check your brakes. If your pedals become soft or mushy, hard and resistant, or rests too high or too low than that is an indication that you need to replace your brakes. Also the warning light on the dash would be a great indicator as well.
- Check coolant and radiator. Flush radiator and add coolant every two years.
- Check your battery. Regularly detach the battery cables and wipe off the terminals. Also at this time you need to think about recharging or replacing your batteries. Sometimes our batteries can just stop without warning. While you are checking the battery check the undercarriage of your car as well, sometimes things get stuck up there that can cause damage to your car.
While completing these maintenance checks, don’t forget about sourcing quality replacement parts. Using used auto parts can save you money while still ensuring that your car runs smoothly. These parts are often in excellent condition and provide a more affordable and eco-friendly option for repairs. If you follow these quick tips, you should be able to prolong the life of your car.
If you follow these quick tips, you should be able to prolong the life of your car.
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Great tips! I just had my shocks and struts upgraded 🙂
It is very important to do these things – just like we do well visits for our family. That reminds me that it’s time to get my tires rotated! Thanks for the reminder.
What a great checklist. We have always done pretty well with maintaining our vehicles and they have “rewarded” us with lasting a long time!
I know some people don’t take care of their cars. We always do our scheduled maintenance and have very little problems. In fact, one vehicle we own is 16 years old and has over 200,000 miles on it. We bought it used, paid cash, have done all the maintenance on schedule. We have only had two other problems in the past 10 years that we have owned it–replace starter and CO sensor. We hope to have it for a couple more years!
I agree. Regular maintenance is very important to the life of your car. I am like to be on a schedule even.
YES! This is an absolutely great post. My Dad made sure that all of his 7 girls new how to take care of regular maintenance on our cars, and we pass that on to our sons AND daughters, even though their fathers take care of that. It’s so important for the life and quality of our vehicles, in every season. It’s also super important for trade-in value!