Have you recently bought a car? Whether it's new or used, you probably want to do everything you can to keep it running as long as possible. One of the best ways to make sure your car lasts a long time is to practice good car care, which involves routine maintenance. Properly maintaining your vehicle will not only keep it running smoothly for years to come, but it also helps prevent breakdowns and costly repairs.
Here are three simple ways to practice good car care and maintain your vehicle.
1. Change the Oil
Oil lubricates the internal parts of the engine, which helps it to run more smoothly and prevents the engine from overheating. Over time, the oil in your engine breaks down and stops working as it should. For this reason, it's important to replace the old oil with new oil. How often you change your oil depends on a number of factors. These factors include the make and model of your vehicle, what type of motor oil your car uses, and your driving habits.
2. Check Your Fluids
Your vehicle needs different kinds of fluids to help it run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. If certain fluids are low, it could greatly reduce how well your vehicle runs. Low or no fluids could also cause breakdowns and major damage to your vehicle.
Along with your engine oil, here are some fluids in your vehicle that you should check on a regular basis:
- Coolant. Also known as antifreeze, this fluid prevents the radiator from overheating in the summer and freezing in the winter.
- Power steering fluid. This hydraulic fluid transfers power to the steering system, making a vehicle easier to drive.
- Brake fluid. This hydraulic fluid amplifies braking force, which helps the brakes to work better.
- Transmission fluid. This important fluid keeps the transmission cool, lubricates moving parts, and facilitates gear shifts.
The windshield wiper fluid keeps the windshield free of debris. Another important function of this fluid is that it prevents the washer fluid reservoir from corroding.
3. Rotate the Tires
When most car owners rotate their tires, they usually take the back tires and move them to the front. They then move the front tires to the back. However, there are other tire rotation patterns. This rotation pattern depends if your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive.
No matter what pattern is best, it's important to rotate the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. When you rotate the tires, you help the tires wear more evenly. Evenly worn tires last longer, help the vehicle handle better, and save you money.
For more information about car care, contact a company like Action Transmission.
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