Cars are remarkable feats of engineering that simplify our lives, enabling us to travel from one location to another easily. The convenience they offer is undeniable, making the task of maintaining them not just necessary but essential. Just as humans require care and attention to function at their best, cars too need regular upkeep to ensure they remain in top condition and safe for the roads.
While some aspects of car maintenance, such as timely oil changes, are widely recognized, other valuable tips, such as avoiding prolonged idling, might not be as familiar. The car maintenance strategies we’re about to explore are designed to keep your vehicle operating smoothly, ensuring both the car’s longevity and the driver’s satisfaction. Moreover, these practical tips are cost-effective, potentially saving you from expensive repairs down the line.
When To Shift To Neutral
Shifting into neutral is pretty natural for most people. You do this when you are parked or when you are waiting for a light to change from red to green. The act of being in neutral is actually good for transmissions, as it tends to make them last longer.
When a car is in drive, it naturally wants to jump forward, being in neutral stops this from happening. Transmissions need breaks too.
Check The Oil Consistently
Cars can’t run without oil. A good way to think about this is to imagine the body of a car, like a human’s. The oil running through all of the components is like blood running through a human’s veins.
Oil changes are necessary, and depend on mileage. As soon as you hit 3,000 miles it is best to check the oil gauge to see if it needs to be changed. The same goes for the 7,500 mile mark if you have forgotten to check at 3,000.
Don’t Be A Gas Guzzler
Going on a road trip is a lot of fun, but it does mean driving for many hours. All of those hours on the road can lead to an increase in RPM, which means your car is using more gas than it should.
To avoid this, keep RPM to around 3,000 if your car is new, that will keep your car from guzzling gas as you head towards an exotic destination. Gas mileage is established early on.
Avoid Revving The Engine
Anyone who has watched the Fast and the Furious franchise, knows that revving an engine sounds pretty cool. In reality though, your car’s engine will not thank you for this, Revving an engine does not prepare it to work better.
In fact, revving an engine can actually make an engine require repairs sooner rather than later. Let your vehicle warm up naturally, and only start driving when it is ready to go.
Just Say ‘No’ To Idling
Vehicle engines are designed by some of the top engineers in the world. Thus, it makes sense that an engine should be able to warm up on its own under optimal conditions. Idling might seem like a good option if an engine is cold, but this can lead to some problems.
Engine parts can sustain damage due to soot build up and fuel might not combust in the engine properly. This can all be avoided, if you don’t idle.
Establishing Proper Gas Mileage
Buying a new car is exciting. It doesn’t have any mileage on it, which means it is a clean slate. For new cars, it is very important not to drive too fast. Proper gas mileage is established around the 1,000 mile mark.
Speeds should not exceed 55 mph, as that is the mark around which gas mileage will be set. When in doubt, always check the speed limit and drive according to that.
Drive Carefully In Bad Weather
As soon as a storm or blizzard hits, most drivers want to head home as fast as possible and curl up in front of the fireplace. Speeding through a storm can be dangerous though, and it can have some effects on engines.
Engines do not like to be pushed when the temperature is very cold or very hot. You need to show the engine some TLC and drive the way you would during normal weather.
Always Give Your Car A Weekly Inspection
It can be tough to notice any changes in a vehicle that is driven everyday. Maybe a tire begins to deflate, or some oil needs changing.
To assess what your car needs, perform a weekly inspection to see if there are any items on the exterior or interior that need to be addressed. It is better to catch things like a deflating tire before it is completely deflated, as this helps to avoid accidents.
Study The Vehicle Manual
Every car, whether it is a rental or one that you have bought, comes with a handy owner’s manual in the glove box. The manual isn’t only there for when something goes wrong though.
Whenever you get a new car, you should crack the manual open and read it from cover to cover. It contains all of the information you will need to keep your car running smoothly, and troubleshoot things like where the jack is for the wheels.
Don’t Idle For Too Long
Turning a car on and off repeatedly isn’t the best for the engine, but neither is idling for too long. A new car should not be kept in an idling state, as idling influences oil pressure.
Long bouts of idling increases oil pressure, which means that the oil may not be going into the engine the way it should be. Some parts of the engine may receive too much or too little oil, which leads to imbalances.
When To Change Transmission Fluid
Just like vehicles need oil, transmissions need a special fluid. Transmission fluid is designed to keep transmissions operating smoothly, and when the fluid starts to have flecks of metal in it, it is time for a change or check up.
A mechanic can assess the fluid situation and determine if the transmission needs to undergo a flush. Catching this early on can keep you from needing a new transmission which costs thousands of dollars.
Don’t Burn Rubber
Some drivers have a need for speed, and there is a time and a place for that, like on a race track. The tires on a vehicle are designed to withstand certain wear and tear under normal driving conditions, but as soon as a driver starts speeding, the tread on tires begins to wear down much quicker.
Bumping into curbs while parking or turning is also a major no-no, tires do not like being rubbed up against abrasive surfaces.
Keep An Eye On The Dash
Dashboards aren’t just built into cars for show. They display important information like how much gas is in the tank, the speed at which you are traveling, and if the oil needs to be checked.
As soon as something lights up on the dash, it is important to investigate why it has lit up, and understand what is going on. No light should go unchecked, and investigating what kind of maintenance your car needs is important.
Listen To The Noises
Cars make a lot of noises, and once you have driven your car for a while you will know how it should sound. Sometimes, the noises a car makes begins to change overtime, or all of a sudden.
Any changes in noise should be listened for, even if it means turning off whatever great song you are listening to. Loud noises can mean serious issues. Always drive in silence for a few minutes to ensure that nothing is amiss with your vehicle.
Always Turn Smoothly
Taking a turn at a fast speed can be dangerous, but it can also affect the power-steering pump built-in to a vehicle. The speed on a round and for turns is there for a reason. It allows drivers to determine how fast they should be driving around a corner.
Drivers should follow this and avoid sharp turns. A sharp turn can lead to skidding, or a problem with the steering system which could make turning at all impossible.
Run Errands In One Location
Everytime a car is turned on and driven, the vehicle and its various components are subject to some wear. To avoid starting and stopping many different times, try and go to one location where errands like grocery shopping, buying pet food, and any other odds and ends can be done in one go.
This means that your vehicle only needs to be turned on and off once, which will keep it in tip top condition for longer.
No Filter, No Gas
Gas is expensive, that is true no matter where you are. However, not all gas stations are the same. Name brand gas stations use filters at their pumps, which makes their gas cleaner and better for vehicles.
Tiny gas stations in the middle of nowhere may not have filters, which could do some damage to a vehicle. Always ask about whether or not there is a filter when in doubt. Cheaper is not always better when it comes to gas.
Buy A Personal OBD2 Scanner
Mechanics have a handy tool called an OBD2 scanner which allows them to scan a vehicle and find out all sorts of important information.
The great thing about these scanners is that anyone can buy them, which means you can assess your own vehicle to determine if it needs to see a mechanic. This can potentially save a lot of money if your car doesn’t need to go into the shop.
Stay Away From Refuelling Tankers
Gas stations need to be refilled, and the way this is done is by a huge tanker truck driving up to the gas station, and unloading all of the gas it is carrying. If you are in need of a top up, choose another nearby gas station if a tanker is in the process of doing this at your local station.
The refilling process can make any sediment in the gas station’s tanks active. As soon as sediment moves around, and enters your own gas tank, some clogs can occur.
Select A Go To Mechanic
Just like any service, there is great, okay, and awful service. Automotive shops and mechanics fall into this industry. Find a mechanic you can trust, and give them your business whenever there is an issue with your vehicle.
They will learn it inside and out, which makes it easy for them to pinpoint what is wrong without charging you an arm and a leg. Sometimes there are even customer loyalty programs in place which can save a few dollars.
Have Tires Rotated Annually
Vehicles need tires, that is just a fact. However, tires do require some maintenance themselves if they are going to last for a few years.
To keep tire treads from getting worn down, head to a mechanic’s shop and have them rotated at least once a year. For optimal tire health, having tires rotated twice a year is recommended by professionals.
Unstick Yourself
Anyone who spends time offroading in sandy or muddy areas knows that getting stuck can happen. When you do get stuck, there are a couple of methods that should be employed to get unstuck without damaging your vehicle.
It is bad to slowly reverse, or drive forward instead of jerkily trying to do both. This back and forth can cause further damage to a stuck vehicle.
Light Keychains Are Best
It might be tempting to put every key you might ever need on a keychain, along with the key you need to start your car. In theory this is a great idea, all the keys are in the same place.
Problems might arise when a key needs to be inserted to start a vehicle. All of the weight from the other dangling keys can affect the tumblers in the key lock mechanism.
Get Car Insurance From A Reputable Company
Legally, vehicles need to be insured, but not all insurance is the same. Some insurance only covers specific things, while others cover a lot of different situations, and offer perks like roadside assistance when you break down.
Always select an insurer that offers the most comprehensive services for your budget. Your vehicle will thank you for the next time you have an issue.
Price Check Automotive Parts
The price of various automotive parts can vary from shop to shop, and country to country. To make sure that your mechanic isn’t overcharging, call different shops to see what their price for specific parts is.
You might wind up finding a better deal, and can purchase the part yourself. Be sure to make sure a professional installs the newly purchased part though.
A Vehicle Logbook
Just like a ship’s log, a vehicle should have one too. This logbook can detail what kind of working order your car was in on certain days, and different fixes that mechanics have done over the years.
It is a good way to keep track of any issues, and locate when and where something went wrong. Records are always good to have, and adding mileage into the log is also worthwhile.
Remember To Change Filters
You don’t need to head to a mechanic shop to have your filters changed. These are one of the easiest things to fix on a vehicle. Watch a YouTube tutorial, check what kind of filters your vehicle needs, and swap them out yourself.
Your wallet will definitely thank you, as seeing a mechanic can often cost a few hundred dollars which isn’t necessary for this.
Find Some Shade
There are a multitude of benefits that come along with parking a vehicle in a shady area. First off, you won’t have to deal with piping hot leather seats when you get in your car.
On top of that your vehicle won’t be subject to some of the damage that UV rays can cause to the interior. Try and find an area with shade, or park in a parkade if there is no shade nearby.
Keep The Interior Clean
Vehicles should be clean inside and out. That means the interior should be vacuumed and dashboards wiped down whenever the outside is cleaned. Some spilled liquids, like soda, can corrode fabric and plastic which can be avoided if all spills are wiped up.
Plus, your car will smell nice and clean and not like old soda and other unsavory smelling substances.
Use Microfiber For Polishing
Some fabrics can be quite abrasive, and vehicle paint jobs do not benefit from being wiped down with them. Microfiber gloves and clothes are one of the best fabrics to wipe down a dashboard with.
It doesn’t scratch any surface, which means your dash will sparkle after being cleaned with microfiber. A bit of glass cleaner can also be applied to the cloth or glove being used.