Basic Car Care 101
Even though today’s cars are more sophisticated than cars from the past, the same rule applies to car maintenance. If you don’t keep up with simple car maintenance you could run into more serious problems down the road. Let’s face it-most of us don’t have extra money to blow and we sure don’t want to invest in any unnecessary car problems that could be unavoided. You can avoid car difficulties by keeping an eye on a few simple things and making you’re your car is properly maintained on a regular basis. Here’s the best part of car maintenance-you don’t need to be a rocket scientist and it won’t break a hole in your bank account. But rest assured, if you fail to keep up with these few simple maintenance rules-you will be driving into more difficulty down the road. So where do you begin you’re your basic car care routine?
The first line of care in order is to pop that hood. Popping the hood of your vehicle can tell you many things. Once you pop that hood what should you do? The easiest place to start is to check your oil. Find the oil stick and pull it out. Give it a good swipe with a paper towel or a rag and stick it back in. Pull out your oil stick and see where the oil level is. If it reads low it is time for an oil change. Another indicator that will tell you it’s time for an oil change is the oil itself. You’re your oil look dirty? Dirty oil is one sure clue that it’s time to you’re your car to the nearest car shop for an oil change.
Be sure to check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, and you’re your power steering fluid. If you’re not sure where these are in your car you can always check your owner’s manual as a quick guide. Another smart thing to check is your coolant level. Always keep fresh coolant in your coolant reservoir to you’re your radiator from getting hot.
Other important car parts that should be checked regularly you’re your spark plugs and cables. Make you’re your windshield wipers are working properly. Windshield wipers are less than twenty dollars and are important you’re your safety and the safety of your passengers. A dirty air filter can cause all kinds of problems so make sure you check your filter at least once a year. Make you’re your headlights, turn signals, and brake lamps are all in working order.
As soon as you notice a problem it should be addressed. The longer you wait, the more it could turn into something more serious. If you notice any strange noises this could also be a red flag for future car problems. Although it may not be anything serious it’s always a good idea to get it checked out. Remember: you don’t want to drown yourself in worse car problems-keeping your car properly maintained will save you headaches down the road.