Our cars are some of the most important things we possess. They get us to where we need to go, and keep us safe while doing it. Unfortunately, too many drivers are neglecting to perform even the most basic maintenance to ensure that their cars stay on the road. Small, easily performed checks are ignored and allowed to develop into serious dangers that could both destroy a car and introduce drivers to serious danger. Most essential among these is regularly checking and changing engine oil, and monitoring a tire's pressure and tread levels.
The oil in a car's engine serves as the lubricant to ensure that all the moving parts in the motor operate smoothly, without any harsh scraping or unnecessary heat conducting through friction. As this oil ages and is used, it becomes thicker and less able to adequately lubricate. When used too long, oil will no longer adequately coat an engine's crucial components, allowing for seriously damaging contact between metal surfaces. As these surfaces scrape and rub together, not only does excessive heat result, but the potential for breaking.
Engines that run on used oil for too long a time are extremely vulnerable to dangerous engine fires and mechanical failure which can cost thousands of dollars to fix and rebuild and create dangerous accidents that could inflict serious harm to those on board. Fortunately, all this danger is easily avoidable with regular checks of your engine's oil levels, and performing regular oil changes when the time comes. Once you reach the recommended mileage for the oil inside your engine, it should be changed. Running any longer than what is recommended does nothing but expose you to danger.
Maintaining adequate tire pressure and monitoring the tread level on your tires is equally essential. The pressure in your tires affects everything from acceleration and braking to handling to fuel economy. Tires that are improperly inflated will not only harm your ability to properly maneuver in the event of an impending obstacle, they are susceptible to blow outs, creating the potential for serious and uncontrollable accidents.
It is important to understand the proper inflation pressures for the tires you have on your car. If your tire pressure is higher than recommended, a lesser amount of the tread will be making contact with the road, harming traction and your ability to stop. If your pressure is too low, which is more often the case, then too much of the surface of the tire will make contact with the road, increasing friction and resistance. This can not only cause your tires to wear out much quicker, but also overheat. Overheating can lead to blowouts and a total separation of a tire's tread, which leads to serious accidents.
Checking for proper inflation is a relatively painless task. Under inflation can often be seen with the naked eye, as tires appear to sag or slump. Some tires, like radial tires, however, will not show inflation issues as clearly. For a more accurate reading, pressure gauges are also available at any gas station. It would also be wise to invest in a tire pressure gauge of your own to test the pressures in all four tires at home. Another clear indicator of underinflated tires is a squealing sound while cornering. If you discover that your tires are improperly inflated, you should correct them immediately, as the dangers are constant.
Driving on bald tires is also dangerous, as both traction and tire strength is greatly reduced. Your ability to stop or turn is inhibited, and driving over minor bumps and cracks can force a rupture that sends you into a serious accident. You should take care to note the recommended mileage that your tires can handle, and adhere to that recommendation. You can also check your tread levels by dropping a coin into the grooves of the tires to test the depth and level of wear that your tires have experienced.
Basic car care like this can be the difference between safely driving to work in the morning and a dangerous rollover accident that inflicts serious damage. By taking simple preventative checks like these you can prolong the life of your vehicle and have the assurance that you can be safe while behind the wheel. It may seem like an annoyance to do small things like these, but they are a small price to pay in comparison to serious vehicle damage or an accident.
