Simple Auto Maintenance

Automotive costs range from monthly payments to expensive repairs to routine maintenance to the insurance payment. Plain and simple, it costs money to own a car. In addition to the money you spend on the purchase itself (via monthly payment), you may also pay interest on the loan and a variety of other costs. Given that cars are much more expensive than the price tag they bear at the dealership, it makes sense to find ways to make them last as long as possible.

Routine maintenance is imperative to maintaining your car’s value. For many drivers, routine maintenance means little more than swinging through an oil change shop every few months. If you scarcely look at your maintenance guide (or don’t even know where to find it), a few basic car maintenance tasks can help you maintain your car’s value.

A few basic car care tasks will help you preserve your car’s functionality and value.

Check your tire pressure. Most of us have a tire pressure gauge in the glove box. If you don’t know how to use one, here’s a quick video where you can learn. Check your tire pressure while your tires are cold for a more accurate reading.

Wash your windshield. Grab the squeegee and sponge off the bug guts, sap and pollen from your windshield and rearview window. Do this at every fuel-up.

Check your oil level. If you aren’t sure where your oil tank is, pull out your owners’ manual and refer to the section of changing your oil. Pull out the dipstick and observe color and oil level based on manufacturer recommendations. Auto manufacturers expect a little oil usage between oil changes, but excessive oil consumption isn’t normal. A newer vehicle (less than 50,000 miles) should use a quart of oil or less between oil changes and slightly more oil as the car ages. If you are dropping more than a quart of oil between changes, see a mechanic to check for oil leaks.

Check fluid levels . In addition to checking your engine oil, it’s fairly easy to check a few more of your automotive fluids yourself. Coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, wind shield wiper fluid and brake fluid are all fluid levels that need to be monitored fairly regularly. Refer to this article from Popular Mechanics for how to check these fluids.

Remove trash and vacuum regularly. Your car is not a trash can. Keep it free of empty cans and bottles by stashing them in a small grocery sack and then regularly throwing away the trash. A clean car will ALWAYS feel more enjoyable to drive, and that especially includes the interior!

Wash your car regularly. During wet weather seasons or when trees are dropping a lot of pollen, washing more than once a week may be necessary. We recommend washing weekly at a minimum to remove paint-damaging contaminants such as sap, pollen and rain residue and to give your car the sun protection it needs in the form of a high-quality wax.