BY JELANI DANIEL
With spring quickly approaching, the warmer weather gives automobile drivers a chance to make up for lost time. Maintaining your car can prevent future instances of having to pay for repairs. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you learn how to maintain your vehicle so you can prevent hefty future expenses from unnecessary wear and tear.
Learn about the vehicle you drive: Understanding the parts of your car and what type of fluids it requires is extremely useful. You can consult your car manual for detailed breakdowns of what your car contains and what certain signals mean.
TIP: Understanding basic components of the vehicle can be helpful when heading for a diagnostic. Narrowing in on an issue with some level of knowledge can make you seem savvy and less likely to be fooled by up-sells and unnecessary repairs.
Fluids are the lifeline of your automobile: When checking your cars fluids, make sure that they are at the right level and that they are the right color, free from murkiness. For instance, a brown-tinted antifreeze needs to be flushed and filled with new antifreeze immediately because it is spoiled and can damage your car. Get acquainted with which fluids (anti-freeze, coolant, oil, steering, etc.) your car needs as well as what color and volume they should retain. Such knowledge can benefit both your car and your wallet.
TIP: The most important fluid to maintenance is your oil, so ensure you are getting regular oil changes from reputable garages.
CAUTION: If you are unable to top-up your fluids or don’t feel comfortable, visit a local garage to help you out. Often times, they will give you the insight you need to do it yourself the next time!
Oil changes: As mentioned earlier, oil is the most important fluid for your car so it is essential to do regular oil and oil filter changes. The filter sifts the oil as it runs through the car to prevent long-term build up in your engine.
Start your engine folks: Your engine carries the weight of the car and also comprises for a large part of it. Being sure to have regular oil changes keeps the inside of the engine healthy, but temperature can have an impact on condensation. Starting your engine or taking short trips can harm the engine and muffler since condensation can set it and make the water set and rust, spreading to the muffler which can lead to expensive replacements in the future.
TIP: Turn your car on for roughly twenty minutes before driving and take longer trips to cut down on fuel consumption.
Overall, keeping your car in tip-top shape requires basic maintenance and care. Incorporating regular checks into your daily or weekly schedule can save you money for repairs in the future.
