If you’re a car owner, then learning how to maintain your car is crucial in keeping it in tip-top shape. Taking good care of your car will help extend its life span as well as save you money in the long run. Not to mention, your car will look shiny and new! Doing a weekly inspection will help prevent big problems down the line. If you don’t know where to start or what to do, that’s why we’re here today! Read on to learn about maintaining your car.
Check The Air Filter
A lot of car problems stem from clogged air filters or loose fittings. What the air filter does is prevent dirt and particles from reaching the engine. If your air filter is clogged, it could affect the engine’s performance. Every 12 months, you should get the air filter changed, or after 12000 miles. Changing the filter only takes 10 minutes or so, and you can even learn how to do it yourself to save some money!
Regularly Inspect Tire Pressure And Fluids
Tire pressure is something you definitely don’t want to ignore. Tires are one of the most important parts of a car, especially for safety. Getting into the habit of checking your tires on a regular basis won’t only save you money, it’ll ensure your safety while driving.
Check The Battery
The car battery is crucial. If your battery isn’t working, then the car simply won’t start even if everything else is perfectly fine. You can avoid any mishaps by checking your car battery. First, check the cables and connection to the terminals. Use a multimeter with the engine off to see if the battery is fully charged.
Change The Spark Plugs
If you notice that the engine isn’t working quite right, the reason could be the spark plugs. When they aren’t checked on a regular basis, they can wear out and get covered in buildup. Check your car manual to see how often they need to be replaced.
Get The Tires Rotated
This is the easiest trick to help prevent wearing out the tires and make them last longer. Get the tires rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles. While different tires don’t wear out at the same pace, so see what works for you. On top of that, make sure the tires are all aligned.
Inspect and Replace Serpentine Belts
Be sure to carefully inspect the serpentine belts and check for wear. If these belts fail, they can cause damage to engine parts and result in a huge bill for you. To see how often you should change the belts, look at your car manual. The process of changing the belts is fairly simple as well, so don’t worry about it!