I don’t think anyone wants his/her car to be in and out of the mechanic workshop all the time. That’s why taking good care of your vehicle and keeping it in proper running order with regular DIY car maintenance is the key to its longevity. Aside from longevity, keeping your car in great shape with standard car maintenance methods additionally expands safety. When your car is running smoothly and performing at an optimal level, there would be less strain on your vehicle engine and different parts. More so, your driving capacity won’t be impeded by a compromised vehicle. The good news is, you don’t have to be a mechanical prodigy to keep your vehicle in great shape. You only need to be aware of what’s required in order to be done, how it’s done and when it should be done. To help you with these needs, we’ve compiled a DIY car maintenance checklist that will help you in ensuring your car is in top running condition.
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Change Your Oil And Oil Filter
Motor oil is your engine’s life-blood. It serves a lot of functions- it serves as a lubricant, which helps keep engine parts from grinding against each other and destroying the engine, helps act as a sealant against debris, cools the engine, and helps prevent engine corrosion. Making sure the oil is squeaky clean is crucial for the health of your engine. Though changing the oil and oil filter depends on your car, the type of oil you use (petroleum-based or synthetic), how much you drive, your driving style, weather factors, and vehicle mileage. However, many experts recommend following your vehicle’s owner’s manual recommendation or change the oil & oil filter as much as every three months or 3000 miles (ca. 4,828 km). For your vehicles other fluids, you should ultimately follow the vehicle’s owner’s manual; however, we recommend the following general guidelines:
Brake Fluid: Change every two years or 24,000 miles (ca. 38,624 km)
Power Steering Fluid: Change every two years
Transmission Fluid: Change every 30,000 to 60,000 miles (ca. 96,561 km)
Tire Pressure, Rotation And Tread Depth
Since your tires are your car’s only contact with the road, it’s imperative to regularly maintain and check them for a safe, fuel-efficient ride. Failure to take good care of your tires can bring about significant safety concerns for you, your passengers, and fellow drivers on the road.
The rate at which you carry out maintenance on your car tires depends mainly on the service area you’re focusing on. For instance, you need to check the air pressure in your tires once a month, before long trips or carrying extra load. More so, it will help if you get a tire rotation every 5000 miles (ca. 8,047 km), and it’s recommended you replace your tires when your treads reach 4/32 of an inch. However, you might want to try a penny test to determine the amount of wear on your treads!
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Spark Plugs
Spark plugs ignite the gas and air mixture to get your vehicle started. It also provides it with a spark to help it stay powered and running smoothly. If your spark plug is faulty, your car engine won’t run at optimal capacity; the more reason why it’s essential to make sure they’re functioning correctly. When you start noticing engine misfires, poor gas mileage, trouble starting your vehicle, poor acceleration, and a vibrating or noisy engine, you should know your spark plugs need replacement, but most experts recommend replacing your spark plugs about every 30,000 miles (ca. 48,280 km).
Check These Areas Too
In addition to the areas mentioned above, you might want to check the wiper blades, the battery, the air filter, and the belts and hoses to keep your vehicle in top gear.
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