Owning a car comes with the natural responsibility of maintaining it properly. Timely servicing and repairing jobs prolong the life of a car. You can always bank on your garage and workshop mechanics to do that for you, but there is nothing like knowing the basics on your own. You do not need to be an auto expert or too much mechanically inclined to learn how to maintain your car. There are a few simple auto maintenance guidelines that if followed to a tee can make your work a lot easier.
Read the company's manual:
After all no one knows your car better than the company which manufactured it! The manufacturer's guide has all the rules and instructions written in it that are specific to your car. Whether it is about a simple windshield crack repairing, replacing a flat tire, or adjusting the seat angle and air conditioner, you get it all there in the owner's manual.
What else is there in the guide? There is detailed information about the kinds of fluids that can be used in the machine, in which parts they are to be added, and which indicators are on when their levels are low. Plus, you get an entire list of dos and don'ts that help you maintain your car in cost-effective ways.
Change motor oil before it's too late:
Motor oil degrades over time. So, it is of utmost importance to change it for the sake of a prolonged car life. Follow recommendations by the manufacturer to renew it from time to time. Schedule an appointment with a staff from an authorized garage and get your vehicle checked as soon as your car's oil life monitoring system tells you that it's time you need new oil. You never know, some new issues may also come to light which you had no clue about as the mechanic proceeds to check your car.
Check your check engine lights:
Most of the modern day vehicles come fitted with a check engine light which signals when something is not functioning properly in your car's engine. Try to resolve it soon; otherwise, the results can be too costly. If your car does not have a check engine light, ensure there is an alternative monitoring system in the body. This will help you keep a tab on all emission and performance related functions.
Think twice before buying a car:
Your car should be a worthwhile investment or else, you may suffer a lot with it in future. Many people who buy re-sale cars to save money initially often face this situation later. They are forced to do too many servicing and repairing jobs back to back which ultimately add to their recurrent cost. These frequent visits to the workshop do not do any good to their vehicles either. So, when you buy a car make sure you start with a decent one. Check all its papers thoroughly and then proceed towards buying it finally. This will lessen the need for immediate maintenance.
Check your car's repairing history:
Do you keep a record of the repairing works done to your vehicle? If not, then start maintaining one right now. You should know how old is your car's battery, when the timing belt was repaired, or when the fuel was last renewed. Staying updated with all these information enables you to ask the right questions when a servicing job is suggested by your service provider, and that saves you a lot of money.
Follow these simple maintenance guidelines to prolong your car's life in a less expensive manner.
