The average cost of a new car is $45,000. While there are many ways to find less expensive car options, cars are one of the biggest investments people make in their lives.
Because cars are such a big investment for the average vehicle owner, it is important to learn more about the proper car care to keep it in good shape for as long as possible.
Do you want to learn more about steps you can take for car maintenance? Keep reading this guide for the top five things you should include on your basic car maintenance checklist.
- Learn More About Interior Car Maintenance
One of the most important things you can do to maintain your car value is to keep the interior of your car clean. If you ever want to sell your car, this will be a huge selling point. Having a pristine car interior will help you sell your car faster and for more money.
Regularly vacuuming the inside of your car will keep the carpet and upholstery in good condition. You should also clean the hard surfaces, your seats, and the interior windows and mirror.
Another important part of interior car maintenance is learning more about the different lights that appear on your dashboard. These will alert you if you need to do any repairs or if some of your car parts are failing.
These will help you understand everything from your car battery, oil pressure, engine temperature, and more.
- Get Your Oil Changed
Another important part of car maintenance is regularly checking your oil and getting it changed when necessary. You can easily check your engine’s oil levels as part of your regular maintenance routine at least once a month.
Make sure there is enough oil in your engine and that it is not too dark. If the oil comes out black, it could mean that there are contaminants or sludge in your engine.
This may mean that it is time to change your oil. Otherwise, you can typically plan to change your oil after every couple thousand miles you drive. Check your owner’s manual to be sure how often you are supposed to change your oil.
- Rotate or Change Your Tires
Next, you need to take care of your tires. One of the easiest things you can do is check your tire pressure. This should be done several times a month, as it can affect your gas mileage, your comfort, and it can be dangerous to drive on over or underinflated tires.
Your car’s manual will tell you the best tire pressure for your vehicle.
Next, you need to make sure you regularly rotate or change your tires when they are worn out. Rotating your tires will ensure that your tires wear out evenly and that they last as long as possible.
It is best to rotate your tires every 3,000-5,000 miles. Once the treads on your tires have worn down, you must get them replaced to avoid tire blowouts.
- Do a Fluid Check
Something else that will keep your car in good condition is checking all the fluid levels in your system. These fluids include engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, power steering fluid, and more.
These fluids can deteriorate over time and will need to be replenished. If you fail to replace some of these fluids, it will cause wear and tear on your car. This type of damage will likely not be covered under your insurance coverage, but you can ask your car insurance agents for more details on your policy.
To make sure everything is running properly, you should check your car fluid levels once a month. When you are doing a fluid check, you can also check your wiper blades to make sure they do a good job of cleaning your windshield!
- Change Car Filters
Changing your car filters is a necessary step to keep your car running efficiently. Each car has a few different types of filters. These include the cabin filter, fuel filter, air filter, and oil filter.
Each filter is there to catch impurities in your car and to keep your car running smoothly.
First, you should check your engine air filter. These block dust and contaminants from getting to your engine. When the filter is too dirty, it reduces the airflow in your vehicle and makes your car less efficient
The cabin air filter is what filters the air that comes inside your car. This will keep the air you breathe cleaner and will make sure you don’t inhale any contaminants from your engine.
A fuel filter keeps contaminants, sediment, and other debris from getting into your fuel. If these impurities get into your fuel and in your engine, it can make it difficult for your car to start.
You should also check your oil filter when you change your oil. This filter keeps your oil clean and filters out contaminants. If you don’t change it, it can become clogged and damage your engine.
Need Help With Your Basic Car Maintenance Checklist?
Taking good care of your car is necessary if you want to protect your investment and have it last longer. By following this basic car maintenance checklist, you will be able to keep your car in good shape and stay safer when you are driving on the road.
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