Have you ever wondered how some car owners manage to make their cars look brand new even though they’ve owned them for years already? Proper care and maintenance is the answer.
Your car is an investment. You wouldn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a car that would only last for a couple of years, just because you weren’t able to maintain it. Every owner needs to know how to take good care of their car both while on the road and even when it’s parked in the garage.
Owning a car entails great responsibility. You must ensure that it’s always in its prime condition. Fortunately, there are effective ways to make it happen. You can ask for help from a professional car care expert, but if you’re on a tight budget, there are DIY tips that you can do to ensure that your car is protected and well-kept at all times. Learn how to conduct car maintenance and discover some tips to keep your vehicle protected in this article.
Car Maintenance and Protection Tips
There are a lot of things to consider when maintaining a car. It’s not all about beautifying the outside but also making sure that every aspect of the car works fine. Here are some tips to ensure that you’ll be able to take care of your car properly:
1. Maintain Car Battery
Car batteries degrade after they reach the end of their lifespan or when you don’t use your car for a long time. If your battery goes flat, the use of a battery conditioner and trickle charger helps revive it through low-voltage charging. To avoid having problems with your batteries, driving your car at least once a week is the easiest workaround, especially if you live in a cold area or during the winter season.
2. Inspect Tire Pressure
Having a flat tire is one of the common causes of accidents. Maintaining proper tire pressure not only keeps you and your passengers on the safe side but also leads to good gas mileage which increases fuel efficiency. When inspecting, make sure that your tire isn’t overinflated or underinflated.
3. Have Your Brakes Checked
When you hear strange noise while driving or feel unusual pedal vibrations, it’s time to have your brakes checked. Malfunctioning brakes often lead to a collision. To avoid this, be wary of the signs and consult an expert as soon as possible. Other signs include leaking fluid, soft brake pedal, burning smell while driving, and when the brake warning light comes on.
4. Change Oil Routinely
It’s ideal to check your oil monthly. This is to keep your engine in a better and longer working condition. If there’s a need to change oil, you can do it yourself if you’re knowledgeable and experienced in doing it, but if not, it would be better to take your car to your local service center. Keep in mind that if you’re going to do it all by yourself, make sure to correctly follow the necessary steps, such as draining the oil, setting the correct oil level, and safely conducting oil disposal. Any incorrect way of changing oil may negatively affect your engine.
5. Check The Fluids
Aside from the oil, there are other fluids in your car that need to be checked regularly to make it run properly. This includes the power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant. Check for any leaks to avoid malfunction in other parts of the car. If there’s liquid dripping, it’s a clear indication that there’s something wrong with your car that needs an immediate solution. Take your car to a repair shop for an accurate diagnosis and solution to the problem.
6. Wash Often Properly To Clear Off Debris
Your car is exposed to all sorts of elements such as dirt, bacteria, animal droppings, etc. Washing your car regularly is one of the best ways to keep it fresh and clean both on the outside and inside. A dirty car is not only an unsightly view, but it might be the cause of your car paint’s deterioration. In cleaning your car’s exterior, make sure to only use a suitable cleaner to protect its shape and color.
7. Park In The Shade
Protect your car from the harsh rays of the sun, rain, and other weather conditions or external elements. It could be a challenge to find a parking spot if you don’t have a garage. When parking outside, it’s ideal to use a car cover to keep your car clean as well as protect your tires and headlights.
8. Carry Automotive Tools At All Times
Every car owner like you is expected to at least know the basic automotive troubleshooting skills, so that if your car malfunctions in the middle of the road, you’ll be able to determine the problem and give primary solutions using the right equipment. It’s good to always have automotive tools in your car wherever you go, so you have something to use in case of an emergency.
9. Drive With Care
Remember that as a driver, you’re responsible for the safety and welfare of yourself, your passengers, the pedestrians, and other motorists. Make sure to learn the basic driving courtesy such as knowing the right speed limit, obeying traffic rules, avoiding distractions, etc. Taking extra caution when driving will save you from accidents and ensure that your car and safety are not put at risk.
Benefits Of Keeping Your Car Protected
Once you’re able to do everything listed above, you’ll reap all the great benefits of keeping your car protected, such as the following:
- Boosts the safety of you and your family
Poor car maintenance may lead to unfortunate situations such as car accidents. If you think that something’s wrong with your vehicle, don’t delay the inspection. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Increases the resale value of your vehicle
If you own an old yet well-maintained car model, you can definitely sell it at a reasonable price because it’s been kept in a good, well-functioning condition despite its age. Even the small issues can affect any car’s resale value, so if you plan to sell your vehicle in the future, regular maintenance is the key to ensure its perfect condition.
- Saves you expensive repair costs
Prevention or addressing early damage signs is more cost-efficient than totally repairing or replacing a car part. As the cliche states, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
- Enhances car reliability and performance
When a car is not maintained for quite some time, you’ll notice a decline in its performance much sooner. Normally, car components wear out as time goes by. However, maintaining and protecting your car routinely will not only prevent damages but will also increase its reliability and performance.
- Grants car insurance
Having car insurance gives you peace of mind and keeps you from spending thousands of dollars for repairs if you’re confronted with unforeseen disasters such as accidents. Another protection that you can get for your car to avoid costly repairs and maintenance is the extended auto warranty. If you purchased your car brand new, it should have a standard factory warranty that aims to cover all repairs relating to the car’s mechanical failure and other manufacturing defects within a limited period of time.
Once that manufacturer’s warranty expires, the extended auto warranty comes in. It’s a good-to-have service contract that can be your partner in ensuring that your car is always protected without worrying about the expenses that you would pay every time your car needs repair and maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your car protected is quite a hard task because of the things and practices that you need to consider. Getting a car is a huge investment. To get the worth of your money, it takes commitment and effort in maintaining it, but don’t worry. Doing the extra mile of taking good care of your car has long-term benefits that you enjoy for as long as it serves you.
