A car is a huge and crucial personal investment. Owning one- whether used or new- takes a lot of hard work. You need to maintain your vehicle to prevent breakdowns and ensure its reliability.
Used cars are more expensive to maintain and need extra attention. Following good maintenance practices prolongs the life of your car and ensures its performance is at its peak. Good car maintenance will also save you tons of money in repairs.
We have compiled a list of five basic care and maintenance practices you should follow.
Drive Your Car with Care
Driving your car with care will reward you with extensive intervals without repair. As a careful driver, you should never race your vehicle’s engine during a startup.
Your car’s engine doesn’t perform at its high temperature. If you warm the engine by allowing it to idle in the driveway, it results in incomplete fuel combustion. It will also lead to oil contamination, soot deposits on the cylinder walls, and damaged components.
Most engine and drivetrain wear occur in the first 20 minutes of operation. That’s why you should accelerate your car slowly when you begin your drive. Shift to neutral at red lights to put less strain on automatic and engine transmission.
More so, avoid accelerating quickly and driving at high speeds during extreme weather conditions- too hot or very cold. Such driving practices will lead to more frequent repairs.
Ensure you observe posted speed limits, avoid potholes, fast starts, turns, and stops. Don’t run over or hit curbs when parking. All these driving behaviors are meant to extend the life of your tires.
As you turn the steering wheel, ensure you don’t hold it in an extreme left or right position to prevent damaging the power-steering pump.
Wash Your Car Regularly
When did you last go to a car wash? Some people make it a ritual to get their car washed every week to maintain its ambiance. For some, it’s something they do only when they notice dirt.
No matter the category you’re in, make a point of cleaning your car regularly. Rain, salt sprinkled on icy roads, dirt, and mud can attach themselves to your car as your drive. You might not notice at first, but the minerals in these elements can damage your car paint over time.
Even rain can negatively impact the paint job. That necessitates you washing the car regularly. Get it cleaned at least twice per week.
Washing the car brushes impurities away and prevents deterioration of your paint. This improves the condition of your vehicle and its overall longevity. When you go for a drive, mirrors, windows, and tires should be clear of dirt and debris.
Going to the car wash ensures you have nothing to worry about dirt stuck in these areas. You’ll have confidence knowing the rear window, windshield, tires, and side mirror are clean for maximum safety.
Take Care of Your Tires
Driving is one of the most perilous things we do in life. We simply rely on four tires to keep us traveling on roads safely. Therefore, keeping tires in good shape is indispensable.
Tires can lose about 1 PSI per month and can lose even more during cold weather climates. This means you should not rely on tire rotations or oil changes only. According to NHTSA, tire-related issues are the leading causes of crashes.
Underinflated tires decrease gas mileage and vehicle handling, which can lead to extreme tread wear. Replacing your car tires is expensive, but you can avoid this by checking pressure regularly.
Find a trustworthy dealer such as Beaver County DCJR for excellent car care and maintenance. Reliable automobile services ensure your car tires have appropriate pressure all the time.
Park The Car in a Shaded Area
Just like the skin can get sunburns, so is the car paint. Too much sun makes the paint turn dull, fade, and oxidize. That’s why you’re recommended to park your vehicle in the shade.
And it’s not just ultraviolet rays that can damage your car’s paint. Bird droppings, dust, debris, grit, and the dead bug can ruin the paint as well. So, as you plan to cover your car, ensure you keep it clean too.
Your car is magnified by the power of glass, which makes heat get trapped in the enclosed space. Burnt thighs and an extremely hot steering wheel are the worst experiences during summer. Then do yourself a favor by parking the car out of direct sunlight.
If you want to spare your fingers, opt for some shade instead. Even with some driving gloves, the ring of fire wrapped on the wheel will still make you feel uncomfortable while driving.
A car that sits out in the scorching sun for long periods is not only subjected to peeling paint but to crashed dash and faded seats. And you can be sure this isn’t cheap.
BPA threat is present in your vehicle’s cabin. When the plastic warms, harmful aromas get released, and it can cause severe damages to your health.
Clean Your Car Engine
Often, people clean their cars’ exteriors and interiors but largely ignore the engine compartments. Accumulation of grit and grime over the years can clog your engine. A clean engine makes cracks and leaks easier to spot.
Remove dirt and debris that may cause the formation of hot spots on the engine, shortening its life. Cleaning the engine removes road salts that can lead to corrosion. More so, a car with a clean engine has a higher resale value.
Back in the day, steam-cleaning was the most preferred method of cleaning the engine. But times change, so is the engine, and steam cleaning is no longer the best option.
There are several engine cleaning products on the market, but gel-based cleaners are considered the best. If you cannot DIY, look for a professional mechanic to do so.
The Bottom Line
Car maintenance is more than just filling the gas tank or occasional engine oil change. Identifying minor defects or issues and having them fixed can prevent costly repairs. These five car maintenance practices keep your car in good shape for maximum safety.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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