Car Care Tips to Keep Your Car in Tiptop Shape

Your car is a major investment and is very important to you, because it gets you where you need to go. Because of that, you should be caring for and maintaining it properly, so that it stays in good running condition. Many accidents happen simply because car problems that don’t need to be there are in existence, even though they could be prevented simply by performing routine maintenance. You can do many of these routine checks yourself, too, and you can do many of them without having to have a lot of mechanical knowledge.

When you take the time and effort to care for your car you will extend the life of the vehicle. There are some other bonuses that you receive including better gas mileage, longer tire life and fewer automotive exhaust problems. You should also note that routine checks alert you to small problems before they have time to become expensive headaches. Early detection and prompt repairs of automobile problems will generally keep any repair costs low.

Here are some top tips to remember that will help you give your car the best care:

Begin with the basics. Check your car owner’s manual and follow the recommendations concerning oil changes, tune-ups and other routine maintenance tasks.

Oil and oil filters should be changed as needed, or about every 3000 miles, for most cars. Some cars do allow more mileage between changes, so check your owner’s manual.

Check fluid levels for several different applications weekly. Check your oil, brake fluid, transmission and power steering fluid, overflow tank and radiator fluid every week. Check to see that you have enough windshield washing solution or water every week, too. Take a few minutes to top off any fluids that are low.

Tires should be checked for proper pressure at least once a week. If your tires are under or over inflated, your car will be less fuel-efficient, and it could even be dangerous to you.

Check tires for wear patterns, the amount of tread you have left, and any cracks; also make sure no nails or tacks have been picked up that could be causing you to have a slow leak. Make sure his well that hubcaps and lug nuts are securely fastened.

Tune ups should be performed as part of your car’s routine, scheduled maintenance. Problems with spark plugs or fuel injectors can lower your gas mileage up to 35%. Many people try to postpone a tune up, especially if the car appears to be running fine. However it is only when you take it in to the garage that the engine can be thoroughly inspected for any problems or misfiring.

Your chassis, too, should be regularly lubricated. This will help keep your car’s suspension in tiptop shape. Usually, when you have your oil changed at a shop or garage, your chassis is also inspected and lubricated as part of the service.

Your battery is literally what keeps your car ticking along. Keep an eye on it, especially in regard to cables and posts. If you notice corrosion is building up, you can gently clean it off with a wire brush. Make sure connections are secure; if you don’t, you could have a dead battery, which is something you don’t want.

Windshield wiper blades should be changed at least once a year and should be inspected monthly to see that they don’t have cracks or other problems. A protective coating like Rain-X applied to your windshield every two weeks will improve visibility during heavy rain.

Do not forget to check your headlights, turn signals and tail lights at least once a week to make certain that there are no burned out bulbs. This is a preventive measure that can help you avoid accidents on the road.

It may seem like a lot of work to follow this checklist every week for car maintenance, but if you do it on regular basis, you’ll soon notice that it becomes second nature. Becoming proactive in this manner will mean that your car stays in good repair and performs better, longer, so that it has a longer life.

Examples of car dealer videos from TopSeekInc: Elk Grove Honda Sacramento and Mesa Honda Gilbert Chandler