New year, new routine for car maintenance
This new year, make it one of your resolutions to develop a new routine for performing car maintenance to make sure your vehicle is ready to go whenever you need it.
Taking care of your vehicle through routine maintenance is a crucial part of car ownership. Your car is a major investment and for many of us, it is essential to go about our daily lives. You want the ride to be safe and reliable every time.
That’s where maintenance comes in. Taking care of your car involves more than cleaning out the cupholders and going through the car wash. It also includes taking care of what’s happening under the hood with routine, preventative maintenance. Doing this keeps your ride running smoothly and can help prevent costly repairs down the road.
This new year, make it one of your resolutions to develop a new routine for performing car maintenance so that your vehicle is ready to go whenever you need it.
Here are our recommendations for what maintenance to perform, how often to perform it, and whether or not it is something you can do yourself.
Check oil and change as needed
Keep your engine in good condition by regularly checking your car’s motor oil, and then change it as directed according to your owner’s manual. This is usually determined by a certain time frame or within a certain number of miles driven.
Set a reminder to check your oil on the first or last day of every month to get into the habit. Make sure to park your car on level ground to get an accurate dipstick reading. If you notice a leak or it is time for the oil to be changed, you can take it to the nearest Take 5 Oil Change for help.
Check other fluids
While motor oil is critical in ensuring your car’s performance, there are other fluid levels you need to keep an eye on as well, including:
- Coolant
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Transmission fluid
If any of these fluids leak, it can impact the performance of your vehicle. We recommend adding coolant check to your monthly maintenance list, however, the rest can be done every 3-4 months or before any long road trips.
Check tire pressure
It is also recommended to check your car’s tire pressure on a monthly basis. Driving on a low or flat tire can not only cause damage to your vehicle, but it’s also a safety hazard for you and other cars on the road.
Using a tire pressure gauge, check each tire to see if it is at the recommended pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI). Then using an air compressor at home or a nearby gas station, inflate or deflate each tire accordingly.
Adding this to your “to-do list” during your monthly oil check helps make it easier to remember to perform this critical maintenance that can help reduce wear on the tires and extend their lifespan.
Check alignment and rotate tires
While this isn’t something you can easily do in your own driveway, it still needs to be done on a regular basis. Misalignment can negatively impact your car in a variety of ways, including decreasing the lifespan of your tires, suspension, and steering systems.
Similarly, tire rotation, or the process of moving the tires of a vehicle from one location to another, helps to maintain a more even amount of tread. This makes driving a smoother and safer experience while extending the lifespan of the tires. Check out Meineke’s guide on rotating tires and their advice on when you need to replace tires.
Check Air Filter
The engine’s air filter regulates the air that flows while keeping debris and particles out. When your air filter is clear and flowing properly, you can:
- Improve your fuel efficiency
- Lower your car’s emissions
- Ensure the lifespan of your engine
We recommend checking your air filter when you have your oil changed – in fact, Take 5 Oil Change checks it for you. However, if you’re constantly driving in dusty or rough terrain, you may need to have it checked more frequently.
Use this list as a starting point and take the opportunity to develop a new car maintenance routine to help keep your vehicle performing better for longer this year.