Proper car maintenance makes driving safe

Owning a car can be rewarding. Family outings, road trips and country drives can provide pleasant driving experiences.

But car maintenance is required for a vehicle to stay in top condition. To ensure your car is running smoothly and safely, it’s important to familiarize yourself with basic car care basics.

Here are eight important car care tips:

Follow Your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule

Every vehicle has different car maintenance needs and it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. It includes regular oil changes, tire rotations, fluid checks, filter changes and spark plug replacements. Staying up-to-date with these tasks can help keep your car running at peak performance for much longer.

Keep An Eye On Your Brakes

Proper brake maintenance is integral to a car’s safe operation. Inspecting your brakes regularly for signs of wear and tear. Well-maintained brakes not only provide vehicle safety but also improve vehicle performance.

Check The Battery

Checking your car’s battery regularly will help ensure it’s in good working condition and prevent breakdowns.

Keeping a vehicle battery free of corrosion and checking its connections is essential. If any issues arise, fix them promptly to make sure the problems don’t get worse.

It is usually advised a car’s battery should be replaced after three years. But if a battery is properly maintained, it can safely last another two years.

Clean Your Car Routinely

Regularly washing your vehicle is essential for best resale value. Using mild soap and water to clean the body but its also good for detailed attention to wheels and tires.

Washing your car own great is great for regular, minor cleans. But you should consider professional car care, a full detail service, every few months. But what is a full detail? It ensures the vehicle receivers specific, deep cleaning of the car’s interior and exterior.

Take Care Of Minor Repairs Immediately

Don’t let leaks, tire wear or strange noises go unchecked. Waiting too long can often cause those issues to become much bigger problems, which likely means additional expenses.

Even if the repair seems inconsequential, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Deal with repairs sooner rather than later.

Make Sure To Check Your Tires

Since they’re the only part of your vehicle that makes direct contact with the road surface, make sure the car’s tires are in top condition. Check the tire pressure regularly and inspect the for signs of wear or tear. Check the tread depth and consider new tires if it’s approaching the minimum for safe driving. Never let tire depth get below the manufacturer’s minimum. Operating a car with bald tires is illegal.

Change Your Oil Regularly

Manufacturer recommendations vary, but changing your car’s oil regularly is part of its proper maintenance. Changing a car’s oil from 5,000 to 7,000 miles is a common recommendation. It will help ensure your car’s engine runs properly.

Driving a car with dirty oil will result in vehicle running inefficiently and decrease the vehicle’s lifespan. Dirty car oil will also result in increased emissions and bad fuel efficiency. Both issues can also be a detriment to the environment.

Never Ignore Warning Signs

Your car will often give you signals through lights on the dashboard or strange noises or smells. Don’t ignore these warning signs, but have them checked out promptly, so larger concerns don’t occur.

For example, if you notice a light on the dashboard, stop your car somewhere safe and check the owner’s manual before driving any further. It may be something minor that can be easily fixed even if you continue driving the car or something more serious that requires immediate repair.

Regularly taking care of your car is essential to it operating smoothly and efficiently. By following these eight car care tips, you’ll be able to extend the life of your vehicle so you can enjoy it for many years.

Content provided by The Weekly Driver News Service and additional news sources.