Indeed, a car is an important personal investment. However, owning one takes a lot of hard work. You have to take care of it to prevent breakdowns and ensure reliability. Meanwhile, used cars need extra attention. They are more expensive and more difficult to maintain than new cars.
If you want to extend the life of your car, you have to follow a regular maintenance routine. This will keep the performance of the car at its peak. This will also save you money on the repairs. Thus, here are some of the basic car care and maintenance tips to follow:
Read the Manual
When it comes to cars, there is no ‘one size fits all’ remedy. For example, the schedule of oil change and change of cabin air filters will depend upon the type of car that you drive. Contrary to common belief, you don’t have to change the oil every after 3,000 miles. Contrary to common belief, you don’t have to change the oil every after 3,000 miles. So if you’re looking for auto care that is friendly and reliable, look no further than the professional choice here at J&T Automotive from Houston.
As such, you have to read the manual to check the needs of your car during maintenance. If you don’t, you can end up putting the wrong oil into your car and cause serious damage.
Air Filter
You need a new air filter for your car every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. You can bring your car to a mechanic and let him replace the air filter. Or you can do it by yourself at home in about ten minutes.
First, find the cabin air filters under the hood of your car. It can be found in a black rectangular box with metal clips on the side. If you cannot see it, you can check your owner’s manual.
Next, open up the casing. Check out how the filter fits inside. Take note of which way the filter faces. Then, remove the old air filter. Insert the new one similar to how the old filter sat. When you are done, close the metal clips.
That’s it and you’re done. To save money, you can extend the life of your new air filter. Hit it with some compressed air so you can remove any debris.
Inspect Tire Fluid and Pressure
You must not ignore or delay tire pressure. Tires are one of the most important parts to check to ensure the safety, comfort, and efficiency of your car. Indeed, getting in the habit of checking your tires will help you save money and time.
Your regular tire rotation, tire pressure, and wheel balance will help you have a safe and comfortable drive.
Apart from checking the tires, make sure to check the car fluids. Open the hood when the engine cooled down. Then, remove the oil dipstick. Clean it and put it back again. When you pull it out, you will notice that the oil is up to a certain level. Make sure that it is at the correct level. Check the oil color and replace the oil at regular maintenance periods.
Check the power steering fluid level, belts, and hoses, for any signs of wear. After warming up your car, make sure that you check the transmission fluid level. To have the best performance of your car, make sure that you check regularly the tires and fluids.
