Routine Car Maintenance Guide for Beginners - Useful Tips
New Car Owners have less attention or ideas regarding the routine car maintenance of their cars. But it is necessary to perform this to extend their car life. By doing the regular maintenance service, they can prevent their vehicles from costly maintenance activities. For this, they need not be an expert mechanic. The basic car maintenance tips can help them to keep the cars at best fit.
Importance of Routine Car Maintenance
Regular car maintenance is beneficial for extending car life. The car owners can also identify the problems at initial stages that will help them to reduce costly repairs. By doing the routine car service activities, they can prevent car breakdown on an isolated road at night to improve their safety. If they face major repair issues, those will waste their time also. Thus, the importance of routine car maintenance is very high. They should take this matter so seriously.
Routine Car Maintenance Tips
One can do the routine car maintenance on his own by following the below car maintenance checklists. These are very easy to do and will take less time.
1. Owner’s Manual
Every car has its owner’s manual. Before going for any maintenance, read the instructions of the owner’s manual carefully. Thus, you can get the proper care of your vehicle. If you do not have the owner’s manual, communicate with your car dealers. You can also find on the internet by searching for your car’s brand and model.
2. Check Fluids & Filters
Oils are the life-blood of your car engine. You should check engine oil, brake fluid, transmission oil (ATF), coolant, power steering fluid, and other fluids frequently. Inspect oil level when your car engine is at cold state. According to the owner’s manual, you need to change engine oil and oil filter after 3000-5000 miles. Otherwise, car engine may face mechanical wear and tear due to dirty or old engine oil. Engine oil is essential to reduce the friction of metal parts. It will better if you change all other fluids according to the instruction of your manual. Coolant is also vital to remain at the recommended level as it is helping to reduce engine temperature. Change all filters according to the recommendations and clean air filters regularly. You should Air filters after 10,000 to 15000 miles.
3. Observe Warning Light
Today’s modern cars have different sensors and warning lights to signal you regarding the problems. You will observe different signals on your dashboard like service engine light, brake warning light, ABS warning light, Oil warning light, or electrical fault light. If you know the warning lights’ meaning, you can resolve the process according to the indications. Besides, read the owner’s manual or communicate with your trusted mechanic.
4. Check Car’s Tire Pressure
For your safe and comfortable drive, your car’s tire pressure should be at a normal level. Otherwise, your tire will be worn out and damaged permanently due to low or high pressure. So, each week or at least in a month, you should check the car tire pressure. It should be according to the recommended pressure. With a tire pressure gauge, you can quickly check it. Check also your spare tire pressure if you plan for a long trip. You also need to check tire tread regularly and replace worn-out tires immediately as requires. Make sure the tires rotation and alignment according to the owner’s manual.
5. Listen to Car Noise or Vibration
While driving your vehicle, keep attention is your car creating any abnormal sound or vibration? Then, try to find out the root cause at the initial level. It will help you to solve the problem with minimal cost. It may be shock absorber or brake system related issues. If you are unable to identify precisely, communicate with the technician, and solve it as early as possible. Replace the brake pads immediately if you find those at worn state.
6. Check All Lightings
Inspect all the interior and exterior lightings of your car once a month. It is necessary for all lighting should be okay for safe and smooth driving. Clean car headlights weekly with a damp clean towel. If you find any problem of your lightings, change the bulbs or whole lightings according to the requirements. You can also take the support of a mechanic if requires. While changing any lights or bulbs, change in a pair to get the best performance.
7. Check Car battery
A car battery connection is a vital element to keep your car running efficiently. Some white corroded rust at battery terminals can disturb you a lot. To check this, remove the car battery cable connection; keep in mind always unplug the negative cable first. Clean the battery post and give a connection again. I hope it will work and will take less than 30 minutes to do it. Check also your battery is dead or not. If you find any dead battery, change it immediately. Otherwise, it will suffer you a lot while starting.
8. Inspect Belts & Hoses
If you upgrade yourself more than routine car maintenance, inspect car belts and car radiator. Are there any signs of wear and tear? Is there any leakage of coolant? A bad timing belt or coolant leakage can damage your whole engine. Then replace those immediately with the new best ones.
9. Inspect the Whole Car
You need to do car checkup regularly for finding any car issue. Sometimes while parking in garage, you can notice oil dripping on floor. Try to find out the source of this problem and solve it immediately. Besides, if you face any vibration, jerking, or feel uneasy while driving, observe profoundly, and communicate clearly with the service advisors. It will help solve the problem quickly and inform the mechanic the faults’ specific times and conditions.
10. Keep the Car Clean
Like cleaning your whole body, car should be cleaned regularly to keep it fit. You should maintain a routine of weekly washing your car. Mechanically washing the car body, including wheel and tires is the best choice to make the mud and dirt away. Wash also the glass and mirrors regularly. Vacuum the car floors, clean car seats and interiors frequently.
11. Keep Good Relation with a Reliable Mechanic
Always keep in communication with a trusted mechanic who can help you to solve your critical issues. Working with the same good mechanic can help you to solve your car problem with less cost. Otherwise, you may face a huge hassle with your beloved car.
You should follow the basic safety rules while doing car maintenance job. Park your car in a flat surface and use portable car jack at the specified jack points if you need to do repair work under your car. You should also wear apron and gloves before starting car services.
To Sum Up
Car maintenance is a critical thing for many vehicle owners. If they know the above routine car maintenance things, it will be easier for them to keep their beloved car in a charming shape both physically and internally for the long term. For this, they should give importance to the instructions of the owner’s manual and follow vehicle maintenance schedule.
