Benjamin Franklin said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure long before automobiles, but he’s still right. Keeping up with some preventative maintenance can save you potentially painful repair costs. Regular maintenance also increases vehicle safety. What can you do to stay ahead of problems?
You’ll get the most out of your ride if you know the ins and outs of its features and components. Your manual will also include a suggested maintenance schedule covering all the parts and fluids that need regular maintenance. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations for oil changes and replacing filters can keep things running smoothly.
A quick visual inspection can help you get to know your vehicle and make sure that the most obvious things are in working order. Check your headlights, taillights, and turn signal lights to make sure things are functional. It’s important for your safety, and it might save you being pulled over. While you’re looking around, check for rust on the body, undercarriage, and under the hood. While you’re under the hood check your car battery for damage, such as corrosion, frayed or broken cables, and cracked cases or covers.
Engine oil, washer fluid, coolant, antifreeze, steering, and transmission fluids are all critical to the smooth operation of your engine and all of its components. You can check your engine oil using the dipstick. Some newer vehicles will have an electronic guage. If the oil is really dark or looks muddy in texture, it’s time for a change. Check you owner’s manual for the viscosity and the recommended mileage for changes. Washer fluid is a visual check. Other fluids have a dipstick. Follow the guidance for your vehicle.
You can check tire pressure with a guage, but a visual check is often enough to determine whether one tire looks lower than the others. Also check your treads. Tread and pressure are both safety issues. In addition, keeping the right tire pressure will improve the wear on the tread and the help maximize the gas mileage.
The engine air filter protects your engine from dirt, debris, and other contaminants. Clogged filters make the engine work harder to push air through, thereby affecting performance and fuel efficiency. The cabin filter blocks pollutants like dust, smog, pollen, and mold spores from flowing through the car’s HVAC system. While the cabin filter is usually easy to access, air filter access can vary, depending on the make and model of your car (check your owner’s manual!). When inspecting an engine air filter, try raising it toward a source of light. If you can’t see any light pass through, it’s time to replace it.
Spark plugs play an important role in engine efficiency, and they can be susceptible to buildup that ultimately affects overall performance. Your owner’s manual usually tells you how often spark plugs will need to be replaced. When you check your spark plugs (your owner’s manual will also tell you where they’re located under the hood) the electrode and tip shouldn’t be black from engine crud. If it is, you need to either clean it or replace it.
Keeping the view clear during rain and snow is an underappreciated safety feature. If you begin to notice leftover water streaking to the windshield after every swipe, it may be time to replace your blades. Check your current blades before you buy. Wipers have standardized lengths and sizes, and sometimes, the left and right ones will be different lengths. They are also made up of two parts—the metal arm and the blade with the rubber attached—so you may only need to replace the rubber and not the arm.
Keeping your vehicle in good working order keeps you safer on the road and protects your engine from preventable wear and tear. If it helps to mark tasks with reminders on the calendar, you can enjoy your ride without worry.
Thrive on!