In the past, it was very rare to find a car with over 100000 mileage still in use. Unlike nowadays where cars can get to a mileage of 300000 or even 500000 and are still on the road. This is made possible by proper maintenance of the car which keeps your car in mint condition and improves its overall performance.
Owning a car might be very fun and convenient, but keeping it in good condition requires a lot of hard work. It doesn’t matter whether the car is new or has been used, but it is more difficult, expensive and a lot of attention is required when it comes to used cars.
Apart from extending your car’s life, regular maintenance keeps it at peak performance and saves you a lot of money. The following tips will make sure your vehicle stays for long and is always performing at its peak. Let’s dive into it.
1. Necessary prerequisites
The notion of one size fits all cannot be applied when it comes to vehicles. Even before getting to the part where you start applying technical solutions to car maintenance, it is essential to consider some facts about your car. How do you do this? Here is how.
Read the owner’s manual to your car
For most car owners, it is a common belief that oil should be changed every 3000 miles (4,828.03 km). This is not the case because it depends on the type of car and the particular specifications. So before carrying out any maintenance on your car it is important to go through the owner’s manual. If you don’t read the manual you might use the wrong products on the car like oil and this can lead to potential damage to the car.
Learn about all the warning lights
Cars have been made to warn you, in case of any issue. This is made possible by the different warning light indicators available on the car’s display system. These lights come on when there is an issue that should be addressed with immediate effect. The warnings may be useless unless they are accurately interpreted. They include;
- Break warning light.
- Check engine light.
- Coolant warning light.
- Service engine light.
- Electrical fault light.
- Oil change light.
- Anti-lock braking system light.
2. Car engine maintenance
Keeping the car’s performance at its optimum capacity all comes down to how well the engine is maintained. This will help in saving money used to buy replacement parts and most probably replacing the entire car engine. Heavy-duty flat-top trailers come in handy when you have to transport parts of the car like the engine to the mechanics’ workshop. Here are some tips that can be of great effect when it comes to proper engine maintenance.
Check your oil
In hot areas, soil tends to evaporate faster and requires regular checks. The engine is your car’s heart and the oil is the blood that pumps through it. Oil lubricates the car’s engine and this reduces mechanical tear and wear. You should check the car’s manual to determine after how long your car’s oil should be changed. Also, a dipstick can be used and the oil should be replaced if it looks dirty.
Make sure the engine does not overheat
You should not wait for the coolant light to go on for you to get concerned about the rampant rising of the car’s temperature. Instead, this should be prevented, but this begs the question, how do you do it? It is not that difficult, always check on the coolant levels, and check out for any coolant leakages. It is crucial to make sure you use the right type of coolants.
Regular engine check-up
If the heart of the car is the engine, then it needs regular checkups just like the human does. Take the car to a qualified mechanic unless you want your car to shut off on you in the middle of nowhere. The mechanic should focus on;
- Tune-up maintenance if the car’s power has slowed down.
- Check the timing belt and change it whenever necessary.
- Check on oil leaks and use the right products or means of oil varnish removal.
- Change the air filter if it is worn out.
- Change wires and spark plugs where necessary.
- Check drive belts and change them if they are worn out.
- Fuel filters should be examined and changed where necessary.
Extending the life of your car and making sure it is at peak performance, it is important to have a particular set of information at your fingertips. Don’t push your car too far and make sure you use it within its limits. The owner’s manual is the vehicle’s constitution or rather its Bible. Finally, do not disregard the warning lights and before they even light up a regular checkup is in order.
In addition, replace any worn-out car parts before your car shutoffs in the middle of nowhere. Following these tips can ensure your car lasts for long, if not forever.
