Keeping your car or truck in good working order is essential to prolonging its life and avoiding major repairs down the road. With some basic maintenance and care, you can add years onto your vehicle’s lifespan. Read on for tips on the key things you, as an owner, can do to keep your wheels rolling.
Checking Fluids Regularly
One of the most important maintenance tasks is checking fluid levels under the hood. Fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle, and running low can cause serious damage. Every few weeks, pop the hood and inspect the engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, steering fluid, and coolant. Most are easy to check using the built-in dipstick or reservoirs. Top up anything that falls below the “Full” line using the appropriate fluid type specified in your owner’s manual.
Getting Regular Oil Changes
Along with checking oil levels routinely, get a full oil change done regularly per the recommendations in your manual. This is usually every 3,000-7,500 miles, depending on driving conditions and oil type. Oil changes remove contaminated and broken-down oil from your engine, replacing it with fresh oil that cleans, cools, and lubricates effectively. Skipping changes can sludge up oil passages and cause premature engine wear. Most mechanics and quick lube shops can perform this basic service quickly.
Inspecting & Replacing Filters
Replacing air, fuel, and oil filters at routine intervals is also key. Clogged filters lower system efficiency and can restrict airflow or contaminate oil. Cabin air filters also need replacing to prevent musty smells. Refer to your manual for advice on swap intervals for each filter type or have a mechanic inspect them during routine visits.
Checking Tire Pressure
Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, which reduces gas mileage while also causing uneven tread wear. Once monthly, using an accurate tire pressure gauge, check inflation pressure on all tires, including your spare when tires are cold. Top up or let air out as needed to match the vehicle or tire sidewall recommendation. Investing in your own digital tire inflator allows quick top-offs anytime pressure is low because of temperature fluctuations.
Testing & Charging The Battery
A weak battery prevents reliable starts and can leave you stranded. Every 2-3 years, have the battery tested for cranking strength using professional diagnostic tools like a battery tester. According to the people at Clore Automotive, this helps to reveal if the battery will need to be replaced in the near future. Also keep up on cleaning battery cables and terminals to ensure a strong connection. If storing your vehicle or not driving regularly, connect to a battery maintainer to retain full battery charge. Catching minor electrical issues early on through testing prevents headaches down the road.
Inspecting Brakes
Visually checking brake pads and rotors during oil changes allows early detection of worn components before they trigger dashboard warnings. If you notice scoring on rotors or see that pads are getting very thin through the wheels, it’s time for replacement. This prevents complete failure, which can lead to damage of caliper pistons and other major brake components from overheating. Pad life varies based on your driving style and conditions.
Conclusion
Making vehicle maintenance a regular habit keeps all major systems running smoothly, preventing costly repairs and breakdowns over time. Sticking to the simple routine checks and services covered here helps with spotting minor issues before they become major. Performing your own basic upkeep inspections also makes you more familiar with your vehicle. Consider keeping a maintenance log so you remember key dates for fluid checks, filter swaps, tire rotations and more. With consistency, your vehicle will last many more miles on the road.
