Essential Car Maintenance Tips Updated 04/2024

These easy-to-implement suggestions for good car maintenance can help you maximize the resale value of your vehicle. This author has been thoroughly vetted and is qualified to write about this subject matter. Learn more about us by visiting our website’s “About Us” page. There’s no denying that cars are an investment, and you should do everything you can to protect it so that it lasts as long as possible. There are 15 automobile maintenance suggestions in this book to help you keep your vehicle in top shape for many years.

There are a few of these:

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Filter replacements should be made as soon as possible

Observing the tread depth of your tires

Changing the oil on a regular basis

Keeping the inside of the vehicle in good condition

Removing blemishes in a flash

Assuring proper brake care

not to smoke in the cabin

The value of your car is safeguarded by regular maintenance, which not only extends the life of the vehicle and ensures that every component functions as intended. Interested in getting started right away?

Our list of the greatest car care techniques may begin right now!

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15 Essential Car Maintenance Tips

Maintenance Tip #1 – Replace Your Filters On Time Every Time

Number One Maintenance Recommendation: Always Replace Your Filters On Schedule.Regularly replacing your car’s filters is a great method to extend the life of your vehicle.It is the responsibility of each of these to remove toxins from the environment before they can cause harm. A buildup of these particles will eventually lead to the need to replace your filters, or they’ll get blocked up and stop working.

These include, but are not limited to:

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The fuel filter (replace every 2-years or 30,000 miles)

Air filter for the vehicle’s engine (replace every 15,000-30,000 miles)

Cabin air filter (change every 15,000-20,000 km) (replace every 15,000-20,000 miles)

Filter for the engine’s oil (replace every 3-months or 3,000 miles)

Emission filter (change every 100,000 km) (replace every 100,000 miles)

The implications of ignoring any of these can be catastrophic. You might think of the oil filter as an example. It prevents dirt, dust, and metallic particles from getting into your engine through the oil filter. A buildup of these pollutants in your oil can cause your engine to malfunction. It’s possible that your engine will overheat if this happens. Engine overheating increases the risk of a blown head gasket or broken block, both of which are expensive repairs that should be avoided if at all possible.

Maintenance Tip #2 – Lighten The Load On Your Keychain

Here’s something you may not have considered. Having too much weight on your keyring can have a negative impact on your vehicle. The repeated movement of it swinging back and forth can wear out your ignition switch, which means you’ll need to get a new one someday. In order to replace an ignition switch, how much does it cost? Parts and labor will run you between $150 and $250. An early symptom that the key is beginning to fail is if you find it difficult to turn the key or get it out of the ignition. Fortunately, you may extend the lifespan of your ignition switch by reducing the amount of keys, trinkets, and fobs you carry about.

Maintenance Tip #3 – Ensure Your Tires Have Enough Tread And Are Properly Inflated

Because our automobiles’ sole point of contact with the road is their tires, it’s crucial that we take care of them. There are two things to keep an eye out for when purchasing tires: tread depth and air pressure. The primary function of tire tread is to grip the road and keep you firmly planted. Wet or slippery conditions might easily push you into the ditch if your tread is worn down. There’s also the possibility that you’ll run out of tread, which will raise the likelihood of a flat tire. Good thing there are small indicators between the tread patterns in most tires called built-in wear bars. It’s time to replace your tires if you’ve noticed they’re practically worn out. The second function of tread is to act as a conduit for water. It’s more likely that worn-out tires will simply float on top of water rather than really go through it. The outcome is a lack of traction that can be exceedingly dangerous when hydroplaning occurs.

You should also consider how much air is in each of your tires. Your tires will be unable to adapt to the terrain if you over- or under-inflate them. Check the pressure at least once a week and refer to your owner’s manual for guidance.

Maintenance Tip #4 – Change Your Oil Regularly

When you rub your hands together quickly, you’ll get a sense of what oil is used for. Because of friction, you’ll notice that they begin to get hot. Wet your hands and do the same thing. Afterwards. The amount of heat generated is greatly reduced because of the lubrication. For example, consider your engine’s numerous moving parts, all of which contribute to engine wear and tear. It would overheat if not lubricated, which would accelerate wear and pose major problems. Small metal fragments and any other debris that may have escaped the oil filter are picked up by the oil as it travels through your engine. As a result, it becomes less efficient as a lubricant since it becomes thicker and darker. The answer to this question is: as often as you can get away with it. Older cars required a change every 3,000 miles, but current models require a change every 10,000 miles. Check your model’s manual to see what kind of oil it takes.

Maintenance Tip #5 – Protect Your Paintwork With A Coat Of Wax

Car wax acts as a barrier between the exterior of your vehicle and the elements. Scratches and UV rays are no match for this coating’s protection. Other acidic residues include dirt, tree sap and bird feces on the roadside. Wax is a mixture of waxes, oils, and polymers that goes on top of the clearcoat. It’s available as a paste or a liquid, and when it’s dried, it becomes solid. You can preserve the resale value of your car by keeping it waxed to keep it looking new. Car wax loses its protective properties as it ages, so it is no longer as effective as it once was. How often should you wash and wax your car? – Experts advocate putting a new coat every 3-months or so, or at least twice per year.

Maintenance Tip #6 – Don’t Let Mold Take Hold

There’s a good chance that you’ve had to deal with mold if you’ve ever left milk in the fridge for too long or noticed a green/blue residue on a loaf of bread. As you might think, it’s a good idea to keep this from happening to the interior of your car. Mold forms for a variety of reasons. Low humidity levels For this reason, you want to do everything you can to avoid extra moisture from entering the cabin. Floor mats (rubber or plastic are preferable), a cargo tray, and taking off your shoes before getting in are all ways to ensure that your car is dry. Mold not only has an off-putting stench, but it may also be detrimental to one’s health if inhaled. Fortunately, using a car-specific shampoo to clean the interior should take care of the problem.

Maintenance Tip #7 – Rotate And Balance Your Tires

Your tires wear out because of the friction they create as they move across the road. In most cases, your front tires wear out faster than your back tires. Due to the weight of the engine and the constant rotation, this occurs. If they wear unevenly, meaning from the outside in or the other way around, this is also a possibility. Because you can rotate and balance them, you can more equally spread the wear. A simple swap from one wheel to another is all that the former implies. That implies shifting them around such that no one region gets greater attention than the others. Replace your tires at least every few years, no matter how much tread is left on them. You don’t want to run the risk of them drying up and decomposing and causing a blowout.

Maintenance Tip #8 – Swap Out Aged Wipers And Clean Your Windshield

Replace your wipers every three to six months. Why? Because your windshield is less likely to be cleared if your wiper blades are worn down. Visibility is an essential part of maintaining a safe driving record, and it’s something that can’t be overlooked. It takes no more than 10 minutes to change a pair of wipers, and they shouldn’t cost more than $25-$40. For the most part, your owner’s manual will tell you which wipers work best with your specific model. Your windshield should also be cleaned on a regular basis. Again, visibility is the primary concern. When your wipers come into contact with dust and debris, you’ll also have to worry about scuffs.

Maintenance Tip #9 – Be Mindful Of Your Belts

The power generated by the crankshaft is transferred to the various engine component via belts. In addition, there is a timing belt, an AC compressor belt, a serpentine belt, and an auxiliary belt for the power steering system. In the event that any of them fails, that component will basically be rendered inoperable (and possibly your car). The audible squeaking sound of worn belts is a simple way to tell if they need to be replaced (most of the time). You can also look for signs of wear, such as a crack, by inspecting them visually. Due to their rubber nature, most belts can last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. Compared to a serpentine belt replacement, which normally costs between $90 and $200, they’re a lot less expensive to replace

Maintenance Tip #10 – Don’t Ignore Your Brakes

The pads, calipers, and rotors are the three primary parts of a modern disc brake system. Pedaling causes calipers to compress brake pads against rotors, which causes friction and brings your car to an abrupt halt when you let up on the pedal. You may recall from earlier auto maintenance advice that friction wears out various parts of your vehicle. Rotor lifespans range from 30,000 to 70,000 miles, while brake pads normally last between 25,000 and 65,000 miles. Calipers, on the other hand, should be replaced every 10 years or 75,000 to 100,000 miles. Your stopping ability will be weakened if you fail to take care of even one of these basic necessities. Which, as you might expect, poses a significant threat in the event of an emergency. It’s time to have your brakes inspected if your vehicle makes screeching or grinding noises when you brake, vibrates or pulls in one direction.

Maintenance Tip #11 – Drive Less Aggressively

Driving less aggressively is one of the best car maintenance suggestions you can follow. Almost every component of your vehicle is affected by this. Included are the vehicle’s drivetrain components, such as the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and fuel economy. For example, think about how quickly you can accelerate. There is no need to break a speed record if your goal is to achieve 60 mph. Pressing the gas pedal all the way down makes you increase your engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM).

In terms of your brakes, the more force you exert on your pedal, the more friction is generated. Your brake system will wear down faster if there are more of them. When a vehicle reaches 100,000 miles, how well it performs is largely dependent on how rough those miles have been. Slow down and take in the scenery if you want your car to last for years to come.

Maintenance Tip #12 – Condition Leather Seats

There’s nothing worse than driving a gorgeous car and opening the door to find that the leather seats have been ripped to shreds. Additionally, this will have an adverse effect on the market value of your vehicle. Split-grain leather seats have leather on the outside and cloth on the inside. If you don’t condition it, it will be more vulnerable to the weather, just like if you didn’t use a face cream, lip balm, or hand crème. That is to say, it will dry out, crack, or split with time. Fortunately, treating leather seats every three months or so will help them last longer. Cleaning them with a leather cleaner and conditioner should be your first step. A year’s supply should cost no more than $30-$45 for a bottle.

Maintenance Tip #13 – Practice Weekly Washes

You should wash your automobile at least once a week if you want to keep it in top condition. Why? Because dirt, dust, bird droppings, or tree sap will eat away at your clear coat if you don’t remove them as soon as possible. Consider the case of bird droppings. They’re incredibly acidic, in case you didn’t know. If you let them sit for an extended period of time, the clearcoat will deteriorate and your paint will be damaged. In the same manner, if you don’t frequently wash away dust and grime, you run the risk of causing scratching on the clear coat.

Put two ten-year-old automobiles side by side and see what happens. A clean one and one that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. There is a world of difference. If your automobile is in good condition, buyers will notice and be more willing to pay top cash for it when it’s time to sell.

Maintenance Tip #14 – Repair Scratches Or Chips Right Away

There’s a lot of different materials on your car’s exterior. The most basic is bare metal, plastic, or fiberglass. A primer is applied to this first layer to prevent blemishes from showing through. After that, the paint is applied, and it is then sealed with a clearcoat. In the event of a scratch or chip, the paint or metal beneath the clear coat may be damaged, depending on how deep it goes. Rust occurs when metal is exposed to air and oxygen, making it more prone to oxidation.

A scratch or chip doesn’t mean a costly repair; in fact, you can repair most scratches, even deep scratches, at home.

Maintenance Tip #15 – Don’t Smoke In The Cabin

In order to devalue your car, you should avoid smoking in it at all costs. Why? It’s hard to get rid of the smoke smell, and most purchasers won’t even look at a smoked-in automobile. Burn holes are almost always the result of carelessness, no matter how meticulous. What’s the answer? Avoid smoking in the cabin if you must. Fortunately, there are techniques to “largely” get rid of the cigarette smoke smell in your automobile.

Final Thoughts

Your car’s reliability, resale value, and look may all be maintained by regularly servicing it. By doing this, you’ll have a better chance of spotting little problems before they escalate into larger, more expensive problems.

Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Car