One of the most satisfying milestones in life is when you invest in a new car. However, making the purchase is a comparatively easier step because once you have your own car, you will have to think about its maintenance in the long term. And car maintenance is so much more than the monthly fuel cost.
You will also have to carefully consider what kind of maintenance your card would need. There are many things to consider, like thinking about tires that would eventually need changing or how to make the old tires last longer. For a comfortable and clean ride that will give you great vibes, you have to make sure that you invest some time and effort to maintain the value of your vehicle. If you are struggling with these or similar questions, we have some smart suggestions for you to get you started.
Does Repair & Maintenance Scare You?
Well, just hearing about repair or maintenance often makes many people nervous. However, you do not need certification to properly take care of your car because there are various simple things that you can do on a regular basis to keep the car in proper shape. These may include checking the fluid and for that, you will not require any fancy tools either.
Think About the Tyres
It is important to learn to maintain the tires of your car properly because proper tire pressure will minimize the wear on them. This ensures that you get great gas mileage, so checking the tyre pressure often is quite important. All you have to do is to check the PSI and deflate or inflate your tires according to that. Having a flat tyre is not something that you can take for granted because it can be really dangerous. There are various preventative steps that you need to consider to avoid any blowout.
Go For an Oil Change
To keep your vehicle in the running condition it is important to keep checking the oil and changing it whenever required. As a general rule of thumb, you have to check the oil every month and then change it according to the directions in the user manual. It is quite possible to change the oil all by yourself, or if you are too overwhelmed by the idea, then it is okay to consult a service center. If you go about doing it yourself, then you have to learn the details about draining the fluid, setting the perfect oil level, and then disposing of the old oil. You also have to know the type of motor oil that would be best suited for your car.
Secure Parking for Your Vehicle
Whether you have one or a few cars, having secure parking is important. There are a variety of things you can have done for your car but having secure parking should definitely be a priority and has to be done according to the area you are living in. For those who live in Australia, for instance, there are plenty of cities and rural towns that have neighborhoods that provide plenty of space for parking or even a private garage. Alternatively, many locals even consider using vehicle storage facilities. If you are in Perth, you have to consider the best choice for secure vehicle storage in Perth because it has to be customized to the location-specific requirements. Having access to such a parking or storage facility is quite a blessing but you have to make sure that you have easy access to your vehicle throughout the week.
Keep an Eye on the Fluids
If you have been driving for a while, you would know how important it is to keep checking the vehicle fluids. There are various fluids and you must keep the levels strictly maintained at all times. The important fluids that you need to check frequently include coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. In case of a leakage in any of these fluids, your vehicle may not function properly. Always pay attention to the color of the fluid to figure out which one is leaking out because a swift diagnosis will help with the repair process as well.
Have You Tested the Lights?
Having a burnt-out or a broken bulb is not just a bummer for aesthetics but it also poses a great safety hazard and you will most probably end up getting a ticket. You need to check the car bulbs frequently to find out if one of them is not working. In case any of the bulbs are not working, drive to the nearest car shop or mechanic and get it fixed. Your car headlights are important for safety, and you need to take all the required steps to keep the car lights shining bright and clear.
Windshield Wipers Need Replacement
Have you been putting it off? Well, many people do and it is just not a good idea. If the windshield wipers are not working, get them replaced right away instead of continuing to put off the problem. You need to understand that not making this a priority will affect your driving in heavy rain or snowstorms because you will be compromising on visibility. As a car owner, you must be well aware of the steps required to inspect the wiper blades regularly as well as how to find the right replacement if it is required.
Change the Engine Air Filter Regularly
Having an engine air filter that is dirty will make the driving experience more like a mess because it will allow all the dirt particles to sneak into the engine of your car. One of the worst things that can happen as a result of this is that the engine efficiency becomes drastically reduced. Therefore, it is important that you get the engine air filter checked at least annually and get it replaced if required.
Periodic Car Performance Checks
Yes, your car needs to have regular checkups too! There are some tasks that you can do all by yourself but there are various other things that only trained experts must check in your vehicle. This is why you need to schedule regular performance checkups for your car in order to catch a problem before it gets worse.
With all the enlisted suggestions mentioned here, you need to get started in establishing a list of tasks for car maintenance because a car that is well maintained will offer a comfortable ride and live a long life with you. If you do this you will never have a scrap car. You may want to do it all by yourself and that is absolutely fine. However, don’t hesitate to call for help if you are not sure about how to inspect the car properly. At the end of the day, the health of your vehicle matters more than anything else.