After you purchase a car, the work is done, right?
You just need to take it to a mechanic once in a while.
Actually, even if you don’t consider yourself a handyman or handywoman, you can maintain your car yourself. It’s not that hard. It’s like a pet that needs care. It takes simple tools, a little time, and patience.
The basics of car maintenance involve a periodic checkup: engine oil, tire pressure, brakes. And don’t forget regular exterior cleaning: this doesn’t just protect the car’s appearance, it also enhances its performance in all types of weather.
If you perform these basic steps, you’re already maintaining your car. PlusyYou’re saving the money you would pay a dealer or mechanic to do a simple job for your car. (Of course, for a new car with a warranty, first check on what you need to do to keep your car under warranty – that’s important.)
Car maintenance sounds like a chore, but it’s a way of ensuring you reduce the risk to your life every time you travel. And it helps you avoid spending too much money on future repairs… because you’re reducing the likelihood of needing repairs.
Perhaps the most essential part of your car that you want to work perfectly is the brakes. Car brakes must be in great condition. Brake problems do not occur suddenly in just one hit. They build up over time. And they cause a lot of accidents that could be avoided.
You can often feel brake problems coming on, if you pay attention to your car’s behavior. For example, you might start pushing on the brake and feel like something’s holding onto your accelerator before your brake will really bite. Or you might notice it takes several seconds for the emergency brake to click into place and for the car to hold. One possible cause of both behaviors is that there might be air in the brake system. The point is, you can spot brake problems before you run your car and get into an accident.
Tire pressure is also essential. You want to check it before running your car. Every tire has a minimum depth tread, so if you are driving with a poorly conditioned tire, you’re an accident waiting to happen.
Always keep an appropriate amount of oil in your car. Your car and engine are at risk without the right amount of oil. It’s best to check your oil 2 or 3 times a week. However, remember you can only accurately check oil if 1) the car’s engine is relatively cool, meaning it hasn’t been running for a while, 2) the car is parked on a flat area.
Another item to check regularly is the coolant. This is extra important for anyone traveling a long distance. Coolant protects your car from overheating. It’s even more critical in the summer season when your cooling system is in higher use.
These are the basics. Nothing hard or expensive, and no tough mechanic skills needed. If you follow these steps you can expect your car to live a long, smooth life, no matter what the roads are like.
