Understanding Automotive Brake Parts and Services

Maintenance Tips for Your Car

Your car takes you from here to there whenever needed. You put a little gas in it when needed, maybe let the rain be natures car wash, and when you remember to have the oil changed (when the light goes on), you do that too. The problem with that kind of maintenance is that your car won't run as it should for long and will look like a beat up old car before you know it.

There are maintenance tasks that need to be done to your car to help ensure it continues to run properly for several years. See below for maintenance tips.

Keep It Clean

Cleaning your car doesn't just help it look nice. It helps to keep things like salt and sap from eating away at your clear coat and paint, which can then cause your car to rust. The underside needs to be washed as well, as the salt from the roads can eat away at the underside and eventually leave you with a hole, making your car unsafe.

Clean your car often, even if just to rinse the salt off of it during winter months. When it's warmer, take your car to a no touch or soft wash car wash facility to be cleaned. You can even hand wash it yourself at a self-wash facility or at your own home. Be sure to also apply a wax to help protect your paint.

Change the Oil

The usual standard is to change your oil 3 months or every 3,000 miles. Even if you don't drive your car that often, the oil can get old and should be changed. If you're handy, you can change the oil yourself, or take it to a mechanic to have the work done for you and the old oil disposed of properly. During this time, it's a good idea to also have the tires rotated on your vehicle to ensure even wear on your tires. If you take you car to a mechanic, you can ask that things like the battery, air filter, belts/hoses and steering fluid are all inspected.

Replace or Repair Wiper Blades

The items listed above should all be checked and changed as necessary, as well as your wiper blades should be changed. Winter can wreak havoc on your blades, and should definitely be changed before and after the season to ensure they are working properly.

Inspect Important Parts

Each year have your brakes inspected, have an alignment done on your car, and have the steering/suspension inspected as well. 

If you are handy with tools and have some vehicle know-how, you can perform some of these tasks yourself, otherwise, it's best to leave most of these maintenance tasks to a professional mechanic. Schedule appointments ahead of time so you remember to take your car in before things like the oil or battery light come on in your vehicle.

To learn more, contact companies like Professional Automotive.


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