Maintaining your car is very important as it can affect its life and condition. Taking care of your car is easy if you know the right way to do it. A car is an expensive investment and if you don’t take care of it, it will deteriorate quickly, demand repairs, and sell at a really low cost. This will cause you to make a loss in your resale and end up affecting your pockets. If you want a worry-free drive and a long shelf life for your car, we have easy car maintenance tips.
Basic upkeep can save you a lot of money. If you think your car is running, then why should you bother servicing it, then you are wrong. Maintenance, regular checks, servicing, and taking care of your car can add to its life, give a good resale value, and allow you to be safe while driving. A lot of people tend to neglect basic maintenance of their car because it seems like a hassle. What they don’t realize is, ignoring that problem is just going to make it worse. So what you could have probably taken care of yourself will now have to be looked at by a professional mechanic who is going to charge you for his service as well as the part/product that might be needed.
Have a Service Schedule- Having a fixed monthly or quarterly service scheduled can go a long way in car maintenance. If your car is new, the showroom will be able to fix the dates for you and check your car and fix any minor issues. For second-hand cars, you can hire a dealer or mechanic who does monthly or quarterly maintenance checks. With an assigned dealer or mechanic, you are assured of quality service and genuine parts. You will also have a written service record which can benefit you when you want to sell your car.
Do your Research- With your car, study as much as you can about it. You may have done basic research before purchase but its time to dive deep now. Understand how you can take good care of it. Study what the car needs to be in good shape. Compare it with other models and check its performance. Don’t trust mechanics or dealers blindly when they recommend products or repairs. Sometimes you can do the basic servicing by yourself.
Clean your car- Dust and dirt particles can cause rust, damage your car parts, and affect your car’s performance. Clean your car once a week with water. Dry-wipe it with cloth daily or every alternate day. Use soap and water to clean the interior of your car once a week. You can even take it to a car wash once a month or once every two months for a thorough cleaning.
Check Your Battery- This is the most basic tip of all to look after your car. Without your battery, your car will not function at all. Modern car batteries are very easy to check and take care of. Check the terminals of your battery for any damage and clean them frequently. Those who don’t use their car regularly, just check it twice or thrice a week to keep the battery alive.
Clean Your Air Filter- Dust, dirt, and particles can accumulate and damage your air filter. Cleaning your air filter regularly will improve its efficiency and durability. It is really simple. Check the air filter at least once a month. You can replace the air filter if it feels damaged or beyond repair.
Check Wheel Alignment- A proper wheel alignment is necessary for a safe drive. Wheel alignment will ensure your car handles the way it should. If your car is drifting to one side when you are driving straight, then you should adjust the wheel alignment. You can go to authorized dealers or wheel alignment centers who can fix it for you. Rotate your tires to ensure that there is no rusting and the wheel is rotating freely.
Check Tire Pressure- You need to check tire pressure once every 8-10 days. Under-inflated tires can affect the handling and also increase your fuel consumption. Weather conditions or bad roads can affect tire pressure. Tires will wear out faster if they are under-inflated. Over-inflating is also risky as tires may burst due to extra air. Maintain the specific air pressure as advised by the car manufacturer.
Top Up Engine Oil- Engine Oil is basically the fluid that keeps your car running and active. Changing engine oil or topping it up at regular intervals is very important as it affects the health of the engine. You can check the engine oil levels through the dipstick or the digital display if it is a digital gauge. You can even ask a mechanic to show it to you during your service. Check the quality and level if you go for a longer ride or trip. Maintain the exact level as advised by the car manufacturer.
