Keeping your car in great shape helps it last longer and helps you avoid expensive and time-consuming repairs.
On the bright side, routine maintenance is easy to do and if you keep up to date with the manufacturer’s recommended milestones, your car will serve you well for years to come. Regardless of whether or not you’re looking for a new Chevrolet for sale or planning to keep your current vehicle for another few years, it’s important to stay current with your car maintenance.
Here are five ways to keep your car in great shape.
1. Tire Pressure
Everyone wants good fuel efficiency. One way to make sure you’re getting the most of your miles per gallon is to keep your tires properly inflated. Low air pressure in your tires drags down the efficiency of your fuel consumption, and if it is too low, you could risk having a tire blow out or go flat. No one wants to deal with that.
Regularly checking your tire pressure and topping off the air is good practice and helps you save money on fuel.
2. Oil Changes
An oil change is one of the best ways to keep your car in good shape. Low oil levels can cause massive damage to your engine if the pistons and motors don’t have the proper lubrication. Old oil can gunk up the inner workings of the engine, leading to expensive repairs.
The best solution is to follow your mechanic or manufacturer’s guidelines and get an oil change every three months or 5,000 miles, depending on the make and age of your vehicle.
3. Air Filters
Another simple way to keep your vehicle running smoothly is to periodically check and replace your air filter. Most oil change places can do this for you when you take your car in, or you can do it yourself. An air filter helps keep the engine cool and prevents dust and microns from getting into the finer parts.
If the filter gets too dirty, it doesn’t function as intended, and your vehicle can suffer performance-wise or end up in need of repairs.
4. Check the Brakes
Your car’s brakes are vital to the safe operation of the vehicle. Make sure you have your brakes checked regularly; the brake pads wear down over time and need to be replaced. If you start to hear squeaking or grinding noises when slowing down, it’s wise to bring your car in to get the brakes examined.
You don’t want the brakes to fail, as this can lead to accidents or substantial damage to your engine.
5. Car Washes
A car wash is more than just a way to keep your vehicle looking shiny and new. It can also help clean out dirt, salt, and other debris that builds up in the underside of your car. If you live in an area that gets lots of snow in the winter, salt, and sand on the roads can erode the inner workings of your car and accelerate rusting and fatigue to the metal underside if left too long.
Regular car washes not only help your vehicle look good but increase its functionality over the long run.
