If you’re not around vehicles everyday like the technicians of Charlie’s Auto Body, they can be intimidating! But you don’t need to be an expert to keep your car running. There are a number of easy things you can do yourself to make sure your car stays in good condition. Here are some simple car maintenance tips you can use to make your vehicle last longer and go farther!
Read Your Owner’s Manual
This is the simplest thing you can do to make sure your car stays in tip-top shape. Even people who have owned a car for years may not know what all the dashboards symbols mean when they light up, or how often they should change their oil. Understanding your vehicle is the first step to maintaining it.
Ideally, the manual will answer all your questions concerning your car. What type of oil to use. How often to change it. The filters to use. Which type of belts. Why a ( ! ) appears on your dash. If you have an issue, the problem likely lies in that book.
Inspect Your Tires
This is another one of those simple car maintenance tips that can save you thousands in the long run. Underinflated tire wastes as much as 140 gallons of gas a year, a number that quickly adds up over the life of your car!
Underinflated tires are also more dangerous. Flatter tires lead to longer skid times and uneven wear. In a rainy town like Lynden, you want tires that respond exactly how you expect.
To bolster your bank account, and your safety, check your tires every month and make sure they’re as inflated as the manual suggests!
Check Your Fluids
Antifreeze, power steering, coolant — all these are important to the long term health of your car, so you should learn how to read them! Even if you never change the fluids yourself, knowing when they’re low can help save you from an expensive car repair bill.
To start, find where each one is located around your engine. The manual will generally show which symbol means what. Once you’ve located the fluid you’re interested in, pull out the dipstick and see if it reaches the optimal level. Oftentimes, there will be a marking on the stick indicating where the fluid should be. If your car isn’t hitting that mark, add some more of the low fluid to make sure it stays healthy.
Replace Your Oil
Check your owner’s manual for information on how often your car’s oil should be changed. You’ll hear “every 3,000 miles” often, but the truth is, it’s different for every vehicle.
Same as above, pull the dipstick out and see how your oil compares to the recommended level. Not only are you looking at its level, but also its quality. If your oil looks muddy or gunky, replace it with fresh stuff to keep your engine running smoothly. Your manual should include information on what type of oil to buy.
Clean Your Battery
Nowadays, car batteries usually require little attention. But it’s still a good habit to both know where it’s located and to check it regularly while you do your other maintenance.
Pay attention for white, dusty mineral build-up around your contacts. If you notice any, pick up an inexpensive battery cleaning brush from a local auto-parts store like S&H, just south of Hintons.
Doing these simple car maintenance tips will drastically lengthen the life of your car, and make your bank account go that extra mile!
Curious how Charlie’s Auto Body learned so much about cars? Read about our 60 year history.