Making sure that your car is properly maintained is key to keeping it running and on the road for longer. But that can be easier said than done. With so many things to consider, many car owners don’t know what maintenance issues to focus on to ensure their car lasts longer. Keeping that in mind, here we are going to take a quick look at some of the top car maintenance tips (apart from checking the tires) that any car owner can use to ensure their vehicle can go the distance.
1. Car Filters
We seldom think about it, but our car’s filters play a critical role in the vehicle’s overall performance. But filters tend to get clogged over time, so it is so important to have them properly cleaned or replaced. Depending on your vehicle, you can always look it up in the handbook that came along with your vehicle. If you do decide to change the car filters, then make sure to go with a good quality filter since the cheaper alternatives will only damage the car’s engine.
2. The Car Battery
It goes without saying that if you let your car sit in the garage for a long time, the battery will go flat. This can be a problem because when the battery goes flat, you will need to jump-start it, which will only put more pressure and strain on the battery and could also damage your vehicle’s engine management system. This is why it is advised to always use a trickle charger to ensure that your car battery is always topped up, especially if your car has not been driven for a long time. For those who do not want to use a trickle charger, just make sure you drive your car at least once a week.
3. Don’t Forget the Oil Change
One of the best car maintenance tips is, changing the vehicle’s oil on a routine basis, which is critical to keeping the engine up and running. It is recommended to check the car oil once a month or as directed by the manufacturer’s manual. It is also important to know what type of motor oil to use and stick to the one recommended by the manufacturer. While you’re at it, you should also get the car’s coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid checked by a mechanic as well.
4. Use the Air Conditioning
When it comes to the air conditioning of the car, there’s a simple mantra, “Use it, or lose it.” This is mainly because air-con systems tend to leak refrigerant over time, whether you’re using it or not. So, while you’re thinking of saving fuel by leaving it off, you will still have to pay for re-gassing the air conditioning of your car, despite not using it as much.
5. Use Original Parts
Your car’s manufacturer has probably spent millions of dollars in the design and testing of the machinery that’s been used in their vehicles, so why put the functionality of your car in jeopardy by using sub-standard knockoffs just because they are cheaper? Suppose you find that a particular part in your car needs to be changed. In that case, it is advised to stick to the original, manufacturer-recommended part, and not a cheaper, inferior quality one, which would only do more harm to your car than good.