For car owners, ignoring routine maintenance often turns out to be a bad idea. It might be tempting to overlook the general car maintenance until a snag shows up. Remember, your car is a machine, and every machine deserves maintenance for optimal service. Regularly checking your vehicle for possible fixes can inject it with a longer lifeline. Of course, you would be counting on your mechanic for general maintenance services from time to time.
Even beyond that, you need to be practical with your approach when it comes to car care. You won’t be visiting your mechanic every week, right? In this post, you will come across some general maintenance tips, that would keep your car in good condition.
General car maintenance guidelines for car owners
- Regular inspection works
Make sure to walk around your car on Sundays, or your holiday, looking for possible glitches or body damage. Inspect the tires for punctures, wear and tear or cuts. Besides, get these parts tested from time to time:
- Windows
- Sunroof
- Locks
- Inspect the air filters
In case your air filters are fit loosely or clogged, they can lead to a number of problems. These filters block dust, contaminants, and pollen to ensure good engine health. However, dirty or clogged air filters may reduce the flow of air to the engine. This would rob your car of its power, taking a toll on fuel economy and performance. In general, you need to get your air filters replaced every 12,000 miles.
- Inspect engine exterior
Well, you might be maintaining the cleanliness of your interior engine, but it’s essential to clean it from the outside as well. Left uncared, the accumulation of minor debris may inflict damage to the engine. Particularly, when you check the brake fluid, a small amount of grease might fall on the engine. This might result in damages to the brakes. Keep an eye on the brake fluid when you carry out the general maintenance.
- Secure the headlights
From time to time, you need to check out whether or not the headlights are in optimal working condition. Turn these lights on, parking the car before a flat surface. This would help you determine whether they are perfectly positioned. Next, carry out a visual inspection on the signal lights, walking around and observing their intensity. You might also engage someone to observe the taillights, while you work on the brakes.
- Inspect car battery
You cannot possibly be ignoring your car battery, which provides a large amount of current to the engine, starter, and other accessories. At extreme temperatures, the battery performance undergoes a dip. Therefore, you need to get the battery tested as a part of your general car maintenance services. This ensures that the batteries would deliver optimal performance when you need them to click.
- Changing spark plugs
The efficiency of engines largely depends on the spark plugs. This accessory is accountable for igniting the gas, that helps to power the car. Therefore, a non-functional spark plug would mess up with your vehicle’s performance. Eventually, the engine would lose its power, and fail to leverage its optimal capacity. In case you come across faulty spark plugs in your car, get across to a trusted technician in your city.
When to hire experts for car maintenance?
As a concerned car owner, you must be following up your technician from time to time. However, if you find something wrong with your vehicle during your inspection or general maintenance, make sure to visit the experts without delay. At times, minor glitches can quickly aggravate to expensive repairs. Remember, proper maintenance can enhance the vehicle’s longevity and boost its performance. Considering perks like fuel economy, better engine power, and performance, it is logical to seek professional support from seasoned car mechanics.
