Get Regular Oil Change Changes
Another routine service for your vehicle is to get its oil completely changed. This is different than simply checking your oil since it requires draining the old oil and changing the filter.
How do you know when you need an oil change? A good rule of thumb is to get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or whatever is recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. You can schedule an appointment for a professional to change it, or you can buy the oil and filter at an auto parts store and change it yourself if you’re handy that way.
Car Maintenance: 10 Pro Tips For How To Maintain A Car
About 95% of American households own a car. Though cars are our main source of transportation, not many people know how to maintain their ride. Learning how to maintain a car properly can help you extend its lifespan.
Otherwise, your car might break down when you need it most.
Here are 10 pro tips for maintaining a car. With these tips, you can keep your car in tip-top shape. Whether its in the garage during quarantine or needs attention before a long road trip, these tips are essential.
Learning how to take care of your car can help you avoid breaking down on the side of the road and costly repairs. Discover how to take care of your car with these tips today!
How To Maintain A Car: 10 Helpful Tips And Resources
Your car is not only your preferred mode of transportation, its also an investment. So, its only fitting that you learn how to properly take care of it.
If the maintenance of your vehicle is not your forte, we have you covered. There is nothing better than knowing that you are taking care of your car.
Ready to get started? Keep reading for a useful guide on how to maintain a car.
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Choose A Good Car Insurer
Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, disaster inevitably strikestypically in the form of an accident. Make sure that your car will be repaired to the best possible standard by finding an insurer that will pay for parts from the original manufacturer and guarantee the repairs it authorizes. Also, know these car-buying tips your car dealer wont tell you.
Take It To The Experts
Although there are some things that you can fix in your car yourself, there are times when the cars condition demands professional expertise. So at times like these, take your car to an authorized car service provider without any delay. Its a good practice to keep the receipts from any repair service. When you sell the vehicle, accurate maintenance records can increase the value of your car to potential buyers. So when it comes to car maintenance, things arent very difficult. Your car just needs to be taken care of the right way so that its life gets extended. Moreover, you get a higher resale value for its condition. After all your car is your favorite travel companion, isnt it?
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Tire Assessment And Rotation = Smooth Drives
The tires are the foundation of your vehicle, without which it can be impossible to drive a vehicle. They balance your car and facilitate movements accordingly by working with your vehicles suspension system. However, this doesnt mean they are immortal, as tires are subject to maximum wear and tear. Therefore, it is imperative for vehicle owners to check the tires regularly for warning signs. To maintain proper alignment, consider rotating your tires every three to four months. Additionally, to avoid any road-grip issues, make sure to check and maintain proper air pressure.
Know When To Revolutionize It
The purpose of this tip is to clean carbon deposits that can dirty the valves, throttle body, intake manifold, and combustion chamber.
Although the car is designed to save fuel, it is not bad to rev it from time to time.
Of course, doing it too much can have the opposite effect, stressing your components and burning fuel.
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What Is Car Maintenance
If youre going to learn how to maintain your car, you need to know what car maintenance is. Put simply, its the act of surveying, servicing, and repairing your automobile to keep it in working order.
From there, there are different subcategories like preventative maintenance, which is aimed at just keeping the vehicle running and stopping any issues that could arise. Then there is a tune-up, where you focus on how powerful your engine runs and try to make it even stronger by cleaning or replacing parts and adding other parts.
Maintenance will always look slightly different because it depends on your vehicle, your skill level, and how deep you want to go. Since this guide is aimed at casual car owners, youre not going to learn how to deconstruct and reconstruct your engine here. Instead, by following this guide, you can prevent heftier mechanical jobs by keeping the vitals of your car clean and fully functional.
So, why should we keep our cars maintained? There are two main goals, detailed below.
Don’t Get A Flat Battery While You Clean
We’re often called out to help vehicles with flat batteries caused by drivers leaving the radio or interior lights on. This can particularly happen when you clean as you might leave a door open.
To avoid this, don’t use the radio or leave the keys in the ignition while cleaning the car. Once you’ve finished, drive the car a short distance if possible, applying the brakes often to dry them and run the engine for 15 minutes, or re-connect the battery maintainer.
Read our useful guide on how to clean your car.
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Replace Oil And Air Filters Timing Belts And Spark Plugs
Air filters and oil filters tend to get extremely dirty over time, thus causing loss of engine power and lower gas mileage. Spark plugs and timing belts too begin to deteriorate over time, thus causing numerous shifting and power issues. Therefore, when it comes to auto maintenance, replacing your vehicles spark plugs, timing belts, oil and air filters on time can save you a lot of costly repairs and can help maintain your vehicles engine efficiency.
Check Tire Air Pressure
Once a month and before any extended road trips, use an accurate tire-pressure gauge to check the inflation pressure in each tire, including the spare. Do this when the tires are cold . Use the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicles manufacturer, not the maximum pressure embossed on the tires sidewall. The recommended pressure is usually found on a placard on a front doorjamb, in the glove compartment, or in the owners manual. Also be sure to inspect tires for abnormal or uneven wear, cuts, and any sidewall bulges you can see.
CR advises that digital tire-pressure gauges are probably the best bet overall because they will give an accurate reading or none at all. Many pencil-type gauges are good as well. Note that to check the pressure in a temporary spare tire, which is often 60 psi, you will need a gauge that goes higher than thatsay from 0 up to 90 pounds.
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Keep An Eye On Your Dashboard Warning Lights
It should go without saying, but theres a tendency to disregard a dashboard warning light until you get to your destination. Thats a risky strategy, so examine your cars manual to see whats going on before you go, especially when it comes to the battery.
Batteries are like any other part of a car. With enough care and attention, they should last for years. However, if you ignore a warning light, you could ruin everything. Luckily, cars have warning lights for a reason. The engine light will warn you if the battery is too low.
The light turns on before the battery runs out, giving you enough time to stop and acquire a new one. When the battery becomes too hot, the light also turns on. The light will act as a warning if there is a problem. If a warning light comes on, contact a professional right away.
How To Maintain Your Car To Last Many Years
According to AutomotiveResearch.com, almost 8% of consumers say they’ve delayed routine maintenance on their cars. In addition, millennials and owners of vehicles that are 8 years and older, tend to delay routine maintenance. Neglecting preventive auto maintenance means easy fixes can become expensive repairs down the road.
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Proper Way To Torque Lug Nuts
Did you know theres a right way and a wrong way to tighten lug nuts? Most people think tighter is better. Not true. Overtightening lug nuts is the No. 1 cause of warped brake rotors . Warped rotors cause pedal pulsation and can increase your stopping distance. Overtightening can also break wheel studs. The stud itself doesnt cost much , but the labor to press out the old stud and insert the new one can run $50 to $75.
Spin the lug nuts on by hand. Never coat the stud with grease, oil or anti-seize. Lower the jack only enough to bring the tire into contact with the road. Tighten each nut to half the specified torque. Then lower the vehicle completely and tighten each nut to full torque. Consult your owners manual or a shop manual and set your torque wrench to one-half the recommended torque specification. Reset the wrench and tighten each nut to full torque. Move the socket from one nut to the next in a star-shaped sequence.
Study this fix a flat survival guide to get you through a roadside emergency.
Be Ready For Long Drives
If youre planning on taking a long road trip, youll want to make sure your car is in good condition. Once youre on the road, be sure to keep an eye on your cars gauges and warning lights. If you notice anything unusual, pull over and investigate.
If your car does break down, dont try to force it to continue. This could cause further damage and shorten the lifespan of your car, even leading you to danger. Instead, call for a tow truck and have your car taken to a nearby repair shop.
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You Might Not Need To Change Your Oil As Much As You Think
If youre reviewing oil change time vs mileage as part of your car maintenance itll depend on how much you drive. You may want to change your oil twice a year, but depending on how much you drive and the type of car you have, and oil you use, you may be able to get away with less.
An example of unnecessary car maintenance for the low-mileage driver is changing the engine oil too often.
It used to be the norm for vehicle owners to schedule an oil change every 3,000 miles. However, with modern lubricants, most newer engines have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. If your engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services. For low-mileage drivers, you might need an oil change once a year or less often!
Transmission Failure And Tire Troubles
A key component of any vehicle, heavy wear and tear can lead to transmission failure, which can cost you around $2,900 without an extended warranty or vehicle service contract. A cars tires also begin to lose their efficiency over time, necessitating tire replacements around every five years or 50,000 to 60,000 miles from the date of purchase. Tire rotations are also recommended, as they can help minimize the wear of your tires helping to prolong their life. A new tire can cost anywhere from $50 to $750 to replace, depending on the tires quality.
Avoid paying for new or repaired tires with 1 free year of Endurance Elite Benefits. Available with the purchase of any Endurance protection plan, you can receive up to two tire repairs or replacements, along with other useful perks.
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Check Your Car Battery
While most modern batteries don’t need much tending to, it’s good to know how to check them and where they are. This is especially true if you suspect there’s an issue with your battery.
The best time to check it is when you check your vehicle fluids. Just take a quick look at your car battery while the hood is popped. Make sure there isn’t any corrosion and/or build-up on the battery’s contacts. If there is, don’t worry. All you need to do is clean the contacts with a battery cleaning brush. Your Toyota Service Center can handle this maintenance for you. However, if youre a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can buy one at any auto parts store.
If you have corroded car battery terminals, dont worry. Just follow these steps to get them looking new again:
Make sure you wear gloves and try not to touch any part of the corrosion. If there are any cracks on the battery or its leaking fluid , get it replaced.
Dont Wait To Replace Wipers
Old and worn-out windshield wipers won’t work very well, or at all, which means you won’t be able to see if you are driving in inclement weather. Dont wait for a larger repair job to replace your wipers.
Replace them before you think you need to. The best time to replace wipers is if your windshield is still dirty after running them. For example, if you see streaks after using the wipers, it may be time to get a new set. Wipers are inexpensive and simple to replace. Your dealer, mechanic, and local auto parts store can all help you find the right wipers for your car.
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Faulty Alternator And Starter
Alternators can stop working, a typical old car problem that leads to battery drainage and costly repairs if not addressed immediately. A new alternator can cost $300.
Lastly, a starter is essential in turning your vehicle on to drive. Without a properly working starter, your vehicle wont run. If your vehicle needs a new starter, it could cost you upwards of $600 for replacement in most cases.
S Washers Aren’t Just For Pro Shops
I hate reassembling dirty, greasy, gritty engine and brake components. The dirty bolts cross-thread easily gasket adhesive doesn’t stick well it’s no fun to work on dirty stuff and you can’t see what’s really going on underneath all the grime. That’s why I got a parts washer. This 3-1/2-gallon tabletop unit is available at home centers and amazon.com. Add a parts washing brush and 2 gallons of concentrated degreaser and you’ll get out of the store for less than $65. Set it up and add water and you’re ready to clean all those greasy, grimy parts and bolts. And don’t forget to dunk your tools in the cleaner too. Just give them a quick wipe to dry them off before you put them back in your toolbox.
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Rules & Tips To Maintain Your Car To Last Many Years
To answer the question of how to maintain your car to last many years, there are undoubtedly many variables.
For example, the type of vehicle, the make, the use it was given, the maintenance it received, and the driving style.
For example, a study commissioned by TrueCar and conducted by OnePoll found that the average life of a vehicle is six years.
It also revealed that it will be four years before the average vehicle begins to need repairs.
The number of repairs? Three times. The thing is, according to the survey, it takes the average driver four bumpy months to realize its time for an update.
For this reason, the actions that you implement can shorten or lengthen the life of your car. With information from Popular Mechanics, there are a few points that can really make a difference.
Dont worry, we wont talk about the oil change, tires, air filters, brakes, and everything we already know.
Here are the tips on how to maintain your car to last many years. You just have to pay attention to these details and, surely, your car will reward you with many kilometers and enjoy at its controls. Do you dare to apply them?
Here are 24 tips on how to maintain your car to last many years. If you follow these practices, I assure you that your car will reward you with many kilometers of driving enjoyment. If you really like your car, it deserves a little pampering.
Lighten Up Your Keychain
Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? Thats a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when its in the ignition. The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight keychain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key sticks when you try to turn on the car, its a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded.
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