Things You Should Check As Part Of Your Car Maintenance Routine
Regular car maintenance—like checking oil, brakes, fluids, tyre pressure, and lights—is essential to ensure safety, prevent costly repairs, and keep your vehicle running efficiently. Always follow your owner's manual for service schedules and fuel guidelines.
Regular maintenance of your vehicle is important to keep your car in prime condition and help save money on future repairs. However, several car owners are unfamiliar with the routine checks that need to be done as part of preventive maintenance. The basic processes of changing the oil, getting scheduled inspections of the car, and monitoring the tyre pressure are like the checkups that people do at a clinic. These checks are intended to keep the vehicle healthy and help the car owner or a mechanic catch serious issues before they turn into major problems.
Importance Of Reading The Owner's Manual:
Before we get into the things you should be checking in your car regularly, we should turn our attention to the importance of going through the owner's manual. The regular maintenance schedule of your car will be within this manual and you should stick to it. The manual will also have vital information on the type of fuel that would work best in the vehicle.
It should be noted that using the wrong fuel in the car can result in the warranty being voided. In some cases, it may also cause damages that cost a huge amount for fixing.
Preventive Maintenance Tips For All Vehicles:
Maintaining your vehicle in good condition will help you save a lot of money in the long term. So, do not worry about spending a little for these basic tests. Ensure that you spend time to check the following regularly to avoid a potential accident or a claim:
- Oil used in the car - The oil you use in the vehicle ensures its smooth running. The oil level can be checked manually by pulling out the dipstick. The oil change should be done as per the schedule mentioned in the owner's manual. Oil change is a very basic procedure for car maintenance, as this catches leaks that may transform into more serious issues later on.
- Brakes - Do not wait till the last minute to change your vehicle's brakes. You should get the brakes checked by a professional so that your car is safe on the road.
- Tyre pressure - A tyre pressure gauge is a tool that is easy to use. It detects tyres that are not properly inflated, averting blowouts that can result in serious accidents on the road. You should note that the wrong level of inflation in the tyres can reduce the fuel efficiency of the car as well.
- Power steering fluid - Without having adequate level of power steering fluid, the power steering of the car can fail, making it very hard to control the vehicle. So, it is crucial that you monitor the power steering fluid levels on a regular basis.
- Tyre tread - Apart from the pressure in the car's tyres, the tread is another important aspect. The tread is important when you drive through slippery roads. So you should observe the tyres and look for odd bulges or lumps resulting from wear and tear. These problem spots could lead to a tyre blowout while the car is on the road, and result in an accident.
- Alignment - Get the alignment of the car checked and adjusted regularly. This will help you in steering the vehicle in the right direction when making quick turns.
- Coolant/antifreeze - It is essential to make sure that your car has adequate levels of coolant. This is particularly important if you reside in an area with harsh winters.
- Air filter - If your vehicle's air filter is clogged, it may affect its fuel consumption. It is easy to check the air filter of the car and replace it when needed. This is a very important step in the preventive maintenance routine of a vehicle. You can also get it checked when you are at a service centre to change your oil.
- Lights - It is important for all the lights in your vehicle to function well. Check the signals for turns, reverse lights, brake lights, and headlights regularly. The lights in your car are important to let the other drivers know of your intentions. These help in preventing accidents; so it is crucial that these are functioning properly.
- Transmission fluid - The failure of transmission fluid while one is driving can invite a lot of danger. You should ensure that the transmission fluid is changed often and is at a good level. This will help you stay in control of the vehicle at all times.
As part of preventive maintenance, it is necessary that you have basic knowledge of how to inspect the vehicle.
- You should be able to check the air pressure in the tyres, the fluid levels, and the level of oils.
- Inspect the battery and, if required, clean the contacts.
- It is easy to replace the windshield wipers when these start leaving streaks on the windshield. Similarly, you can replace the air filter of the cabin effortlessly. On the other hand, replacing the engine air filter is a little more complicated. The owner's manual will have instructions on when the engine air filter needs to be replaced. If you drive in traffic a lot, your engine air filter will be more dirty than that of an occasional driver's.
- It is important to get your tyres balanced and rotated at the prescribed time.
- Changing the spark plugs will help the engine work in a more efficient manner.
If you find anything out of the ordinary you should not ignore it; get help from a professional in case you are not confident in handling the repair work by yourself.
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