How should I maintain my car?
If you are a first time car owner, or just haven’t ever been to the one to look over cars, you may think you are in over your head when it comes to maintaining your vehicle. With all the maintenance lights and services you may think you may end up paying a fortune on your car if you go to get it checked up too often.
So what can you do to make sure your car is always in tip-top shape?
Check your Tires Regularly
Generally speaking you don’t have to worry about your tires until around 25,000 miles or roughly every 2 years roughly, but that doesn’t mean you have to replace them that often. Depending on the conditions you drive in and how often you drive, you may be able to make your tires last even longer. How can you check your tires though? Some good tips would be to check your tires for any nails or screws that may be in them regularly, check your tire pressure every 6 months to make sure it sets correctly for the seasons, and last but not least, make sure that there is a decent amount of tread still left on your tires.
If you do these 3 things, you can get a good idea of when it’s time for a tire change or not!
Change your Oil and Oil Filter on Time
Your oil is what keeps your engine running smoothly. Waiting too long between oil changes can cause a whole mess of problems that can end up racking up on price. A good rule of thumb is to replace your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles and replace your oil filter every 10,000-15,000 miles. If you do this you can ensure that your engine is running smoothly and increase the longevity of your car. If you are unsure on how to check your oil, come into D&D Automotive Repair and we can help you with all your vehicle maintenance needs!
Check your Fluids regularly
Oil in your car may be important, but what other fluids do you need to worry about?
Some fluids in your engine to keep a look out for as well can include your Coolant, your windshield washer fluid, your brake fluid and lastly, the gas in your car(Duh!). It may not seem important to check these other fluids that often, but if you start to notice a blue-ish smoke coming out of your exhaust, that can be a symptom of coolant leaking into your engine and you don’t want that!
As for your brake fluid, just like most other fluids in your vehicle, going into the mechanic every 6-months for a check up could ensure that your brakes are working at their best any time during the year. You don’t need to change that very often, but having a mechanic check it for everyone once in a while is always good.
Checking your gas may seem like a no brainer, but ensuring that you not only have gas in your tank, but also make sure you are putting the correct gas in your tank. Certain engines are made to run a specific way based on the Gasoline grade in your tank. Putting the wrong kind of fuel into your vehicle can end up causing more harm than good so make sure you ask your Dealer what is the best fuel to put in your vehicle or read your owner’s manual for more information on your vehicle!
Check your Car Battery every 6-Months
Your car battery may be the least of your worries, but just like any other part of your vehicle, it is good to check up on it every once in a while. Most car batteries are good to last anywhere between 2-4 years without maintenance, but if you notice that your vehicle is having a hard time starting up or it might not be starting up at all, there may be an issue with your car battery.
Check your battery(while the vehicle is turned off) for any white crust that might be piling onto it. If it is not too severe, you can probably scrape it off yourself. If you notice there is a lot of white crust on your battery, it is a good idea to bring your car into the mechanic to check it out or even replace it!
D&D Automotive Repair is the best place to help you maintain your vehicle!
Want to make sure you are taking good care of your car, but don’t know where to start. Bring your car into D&D Automotive Repair and our friendly associates will ensure that you are confident with the vehicle you are driving and give you good advice on how to maintain your car. If you are unsure about anything regarding your vehicle, we are here to help!
Come in today for the best price on your next oil change or SMOG check!