If you missed the first part of this post series, you can find it by clicking here. Here are a few more great maintenance tips that will help you keep your vehicle in the best condition as possible so it retains the highest value over time. Thanks to the CarTips.com site for putting together such an impressive list:
– Keep tire valve caps on – It’s easy to lose these buggers, but if you do your tires can slowly (or quickly) lose air and leave you stranded, cause you fuel mileage or worse, cause an accident. Tire pressure is very important, and tire valve caps help to maintain it.
– Rotate your tires – If your car has tires that can be rotated, they should be regularly. Unless you have high performance tires, you should be able to rotate them to maintain tread wear and increase the life of your tires.
– keep your tires properly inflated – Even a small drop in tire pressure can cause major drops in fuel economy. Plus it can damage your tires, increase tread wear and even cause a blowout. To make sure you’re not spending too much at the pump, or putting yourself in danger, make sure your tires are properly inflated. The correct tire pressure will be printed on the side of your tires and most tire shops will fill your tires at no cost.
[I want to add a note from Trent, a reader of this blog, where he points out a tip for inflating your tires: NEVER inflate a tire to the pressure on the side of the tire. That is the maximum pressure at a maximum weight. Always inflate tires according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, generally on a sticker in the driver-side door jam.]
– Check for moisture in airpumps – If you are filling the air in your tires and you notice that there is moisture coming from the air pump you need to let the shop owner know. The air pump will need to be drained. If they cannot or will not drain the water, find another shop with a pump that will not fill your tires with moisture. The excess moisture can cause pressure problems and even corrode your wheels from the inside.
– Clean your wheels – Your wheels see a lot of dirt, grime, water and use. Maintain the finish on your wheels properly by cleaning them when you wash your car. Most modern wheels have a clear coat finish like the paint job on your car and can be maintained in the same way.
– Check your wheel alignment – An incorrect wheel alignment can cause the car to not drive straight or wear your tires excessively. In order to maintain your car’s tires and make sure your car is safe to drive, have your alignment checked when servicing your car.
– Check engine oil regularly – Every second fillup or so you should be checking the oil level in your car. Low or dirty oil can cause excess wear on your engine and a multitude of problems down the road. Engine oil is VITAL to your car’s engine and must be taken seriously.
Checking & changing your oil is important for engine components.
– Change your oil frequently – Engine oil will collect dirt and grime from the inside of your engine. By changing it regularly you are removing the dirt and maintaining a clean engine that will last longer and run better.
– Change oil, air and fuel filters regularly – Don’t forget to change the filters in your engine. Each of the power train’s filters will affect engine performance and an excess buildup of dirt in the filters will drastically decrease the efficiency of the engine.
– Check spark plugs – Checking spark plugs is necessary once every two oil changes. They should be properly gapped by a technician and be cleaned of any buildup. A lot of engine problems can be spotted early on by checking your spark plugs and changing if necessary.
– Fuel injector cleaner – Fuel injector cleaner will help to maintain the flow of fuel into your engine cylinders. Dirty fuel injectors can cause low fuel economy or even damage or fire in the engine compartment. If you have a fuel injected engine, every 6 months add a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to a full tank of gas.
– Run your A/C unit in winter – By running your A/C unit in the winter you make sure that it stays in working condition. If the A/C unit is not running for too long, it can cause problems when you go to use it in the following summer.
If you have any other tips that you use to keep your car in great condition, come on over and tell me about them or feel free to comment below.
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