Top 10 Car Care Tips

We all rely on vehicles in one way or another, and most of us own our own, using them for both business and pleasure. Keeping your vehicle tidy is perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of daily life. Drivers spend millions of dollars every year simply because they didn't take the time to take care of their own car. It is true that caring for a car is time consuming, but if you don't take care of it, it can result in much bigger problems. There are always cars that can break down at any moment, but by following these tips, you will increase the reliability of your vehicle and reduce the risk of breakdown.

1. Check the tire pressure

Flat tires are a big cost for motorists every year. Combine this financial cost with the fact that flat tires are also one of the leading causes of accidents, and you have a great reason to pay attention to your car tires. One of the leading causes of flat tires is too low or high tire pressure, but this problem is easily preventable. All you need to do to make sure your tires are at the correct pressure is to buy an inexpensive pressure gauge and find out the ideal pressure for your tire type.

2. Do not drive too often with little gasoline.

Every car needs fuel. While some vehicles run on electricity, most still use gasoline, and everyone knows that an empty gas tank means the car won't be able to move. What most people don't realize, however, is that running a car with an almost empty tank can cause problems with the fuel pump. The fuel pump pumps gasoline from the fuel tank into the engine, allowing the engine to run. When the fuel pump fails, the engine does not receive fuel. One of the most common causes of fuel pump failure is pump burnout due to too little fuel covering it. In order to prevent your fuel pump from burning out, you should avoid driving your car with less than a quarter full of the gas tank.

3. Change the oil regularly

Fuel aside, engine oil is probably the most important fluid in your car. Engine oil lubricates the engine, reduces friction between moving parts, and prevents overheating and engine damage. Over time, the oil loses its properties and becomes contaminated, which reduces its effectiveness as a lubricant. As the engine continues to run, due to lack of lubrication, more heat is generated and parts are damaged. For this reason, you should regularly change the oil in your car.

4. Wash the underside of the car often

When the vehicle is moving, a lot of debris gets into the engine and chassis. While many of the newer models have various solutions to this problem, they cannot completely block debris from entering. Traffic debris becomes a problem as it can end up in belts, pulleys and other moving parts, which can eventually lead to breakage. To prevent debris-related breakdowns, simply flush the underside of your car with a hose once a month or so.

5. Check the brakes

Bad brakes are one of the most common causes of accidents. Many motorists do not know that brakes wear out over time and therefore do not monitor their condition, although they should. Most people tend to wait until their brakes start to squeak before changing them, and while it's not a bad idea, it's never a bad idea to check your brakes periodically if you feel like there's a lot between pressing the brake pedal and stopping the car while driving. delay.

6. Check the lights

Car lights are more about safety than mechanics, but they are very important. They are used both for driving in the dark and to alert other motorists of your intentions. Many accidents happen because the driver is unaware that his lights are not working properly. To check them out, have a friend look at the car as you turn the lights on and off one at a time. If any of them don't work, try to fix the problem as soon as possible.

7. Pay attention to the indicator "Check engine"

It seems like the check engine light is placed in your car only to annoy you, but it is intended to be the first warning that the car is not working properly. Often times, the indicator comes on and people ignore it because there is no sign of a serious problem, and the truth is, there probably isn't a big problem at the moment. However, if the problem is not corrected, it will lead to much more trouble in the long run. It can be inconvenient to send a car for a check every time the check engine light comes on, but it is much more inconvenient to send a car for a long and expensive repair.

8. Service Radiator

The radiator and all related systems serve to keep your car from overheating and getting too cold. Over time, the fluid that passes through the radiator and engine becomes less efficient in its operation and this can eventually lead to either engine overheating or freezing and cracking. For this reason, remember to service your radiator.

9. Have a technical inspection of the car once a year.

The truth about cars is that they eventually break down, but with proper maintenance, most breakdowns can be prevented. With automotive problems, it is best to go to mechanics who are professionally trained and know how to recognize even the smallest problem and fix it. It is never easy to pay a mechanic because many people don't understand what they are doing, but the cost of inspecting your vehicle will almost always be lower than the overhaul bill.

10. Pay attention to strange sounds

cars are noisy, it means they are working, but when the car makes abnormal sounds, it could indicate a problem. It doesn't matter if it's a weird squeak when you open a car door, a loud knock when you turn left, or a noise in the back seat, any unusual sound needs to be checked. Most of the time, these noises are harmless, but it's always best to double check so that later it doesn't cost you a lot of time and money.