The Most Effective Way To Keep Your Car In Good Condition

Since a vehicle is a major investment, most consumers are going to want to make sure that they keep it in the best condition possible. Not only because they will want it to run for a long time, but also because they will want to preserve its resale or trade value. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t spend a lot of time thinking about whether they’re keeping their car in good condition until something breaks and they end up with a huge repair bill that they have to pay.

We don’t want any of our readers to become saddled with a repair bill that could’ve possibly been prevented with proper maintenance of their vehicle, so we’ve decided to put together this guide on the subject. In this guide, we’ll give all of our readers the information they need to keep their cars in good running condition.

The Key Steps To Maintaining Your Vehicle

Regularly Check & Change The Oil

The first step in keeping a car in good running condition is to regularly check and change the oil. At a minimum, oil in your car should be checked at least once a month. If your vehicle develops a small oil leak or begins to burn oil, then you’re going to want to find out about it as soon as possible. You’ll also want to make sure that your oil level doesn’t drop too low—a condition that can destroy your engine.

The oil in the vehicle should be changed regularly as well. Although some of the hybrid oils claim to last 10,000 miles between oil changes, we recommend that consumers have their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for the best results. If you know how to change your oil, this is easy to do, but if not, then have it done by a qualified mechanic or service center.

And before we move on to something else, we should offer a little bit of warning concerning oil changes. The new filter must be placed on the vehicle correctly. If it’s not, then it could leak and cause engine damage, so always make sure the filter is one correctly if you change the oil yourself.

Check And Maintain Your Brakes

Another thing that the car owner is going to want to keep an eye on is the car’s braking system. A properly running is essential for not only the safety of everyone riding in the vehicle but also for other people on the road. Below are some tips for keeping the car’s braking system in good condition.

  • Check The Car’s Brake Fluid Monthly & Fill If Necessary
  • Check The Car’s Brakes & Brake Pads Annually
  • Have The Brakes Replaced Regularly
  • If The Brakes Exhibit Any Unusual Behavior Or Noises, Have Them Checked Immediately
  • Pay Attention To Dashboard Lights

Pay Attention To Dashboard Lights

It’s also extremely important for you to pay attention to your vehicle’s dashboard lights. These lights are designed to give you a heads-up warning about issues with your vehicle. Some of the most common dashboard lights that can be found on most standard cars includes:

  • Check Engine Light
  • Oil Pressure Light
  • Tire Pressure Warning Light
  • Traction Control Light
  • Engine Temperature Light
  • Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light
  • Battery Alert
  • Low Fuel Indicator
  • Airbag System Light
  • Washer Fluid Light

It’s common for many or all of these lights to temporarily flash while the vehicle is being started, but if they remain on after the car is running, then you should have the vehicle looked at to find the cause of the problem.

Keep An Eye On The Car’s Battery

Make sure to take a look at your battery every month to make sure there isn’t any signs of corrosion around the terminals, that the battery case isn’t damaged in any way and that the battery cables aren’t frayed.

If there is any corrosion around the terminals, then use baking soda to remove the acid battery corrosion. Just be sure to wear goggles and gloves while cleaning off the corrosion, and that the postive and negative terminals are removed from the battery first.

Check Your Serpentine Belt

Another way to keep your vehicle in good running condition is to check the car’s serpentine belt regularly. This includes listening to whether the belts squeal while the vehicle is running, and by doing a visual inspection that looks for cracks, splits or fraying that may occur on the belt. It’s also a good idea to check the belt and look for areas that might be slick looking or glazed. These spots might be prone to cracking. If the belt is cracked, frayed or loose, then replace the belt immediately.

Regularly Change Spark Plugs

Changing the vehicle’s spark plugs is also important for the proper functioning of the car. As a general rule, spark plugs should be changed every 20,000 to 40,000 miles, although the vehicle’s manual should be the ultimate guide used for determining when the plugs are changed.

Of course, circumstances might happen and the spark plugs might need to be changed sooner than later. If you notice the following symptoms, then you might need to immediately change your spark plugs:

Common Signs Of Failing Spark Plugs

  • The Engine Misfires
  • The Car Accelerates Too Slowly Or Is Sluggish
  • The Car Has Trouble Starting
  • Fuel Economy Has Become Worse

Make Sure To Regularly Have Filters Changed

The filters on vehicles need to be regularly changed for the best results. Although the car manual should be the ultimate guide as to what filter needs to be changed and when, as a general rule, air filters need to be changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, and fuel filters need to be changed every 2-years for best results.

Make Sure All Fluids Are Properly Maintained

Keeping the proper amount of fluids in your vehicle is extremely important in ensuring that it remains in good running condition. Although we’ve already covered that oil and brake fluid levels need to be properly maintained, it’s also important to maintain proper antifreeze levels, transmission fluid levels, and windshield wiper fluid levels. Make sure to check all of these fluids monthly for best results.

Check Tires & Keep Them At Proper Pressure Levels

The last step in maintaining your vehicle is to check the tire pressure regularly and fill them as necessary. Properly inflated tires last longer, and help improve the vehicle’s gas mileage.

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