Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2022
When you purchase a used car, you should always think long-term. Although the physical appearance of the vehicle is important, you should also make sure that it’s well-maintained. This will ensure that it is reliable and will last for many years. However, purchasing an up-to-date car is only the first step; you have to maintain it in order to preserve its quality. This can be accomplished with the proper maintenance, which is why it’s important to know what type of routine care maintenance you’ll need and how often.
Your headlights, turn signals, brakes, and parking lights should all be functioning properly at all times. The good thing about this is that it’s very easy to check. All you have to do is visually inspect your car when these lights are engaged. You can ask a friend to help you check the features that require you to be behind the wheel, such as the brakes.
Rotating your tires extends their lifespan, while increasing your safety on the road. Even more, if you have a warranty on your tires, you may be required to get your tires rotated in order to keep the warranty valid. This is typically done every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.
Tire pressure and tread depth can affect your safety, fuel efficiency, and longevity of your tires. You should be checking both of these on a monthly basis, or before any long road trips. To check your tire pressure, you’ll need a tire pressure gauge. To inspect your tread depth, you can do the penny tire tread test.
Oil changes help keep moving parts lubricated, reduces wear and tear, and ultimately helps maintain the engine. How often you need an oil change depends on what car you drive, what type of oil you’re using, and what your driving habits are. You may need to change it as often as every 3 months or every 3,000 miles, but some newer vehicles can go as long as 6 months. Your vehicle owner’s manual will help clarify this answer, and you can also ask for a recommendation when you purchase your car.
Cars run on other fluids besides engine oil. There’s also the power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, and coolant (antifreeze). An easy way to do this routine check is to ask about it when you get your regular oil change.
We all know the role of our windshield wipers, and many of us use them on a regular basis. What you don’t want to happen is for your windshield wipers to suddenly stop working at an inopportune moment. That’s why you should change them whenever you notice that they’re not performing as well as they should or if they become noisy. In general, this is every 6 months, but it also depends on the weather and frequency of use.
On average, your car battery should be replaced every 4 to 5 years. That said, you should be getting it tested regularly to ensure that it doesn't die when you’re on the road. It’s recommended to do this 2 times a year. Since extreme weather is one of the factors that wears down a battery, the best time to get it checked is before winter and summer. During this inspection, you can also check that your cables are fastened tightly.
Transfer case fluid helps remove heat from the transfer case and transmission, thereby reducing friction and lubricating the internal components in the transfer case. It’s recommended to change your transfer case fluid every 30,000 miles, so this is not something you have to worry about on a regular basis.
We’ve already discussed the regular maintenance on tires, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never need to replace them. If well maintained, tires can last up to 6 years, but there are certain factors that affect this number, such as the driving conditions of where you live and your driving habits. Since new tires can be a big expense, make sure to plan for it ahead of time.
The last thing that you should remember is to always be aware of how your car is running. Many times, your car will tell you if it’s experiencing any trouble. Pay attention to any unusual sounds, strange movements or jolts, and the lights on your dashboard.
By being aware of the common car maintenance services, you’ll be able to extend your car’s lifespan and drive more safely. Although the list is long (and there may be other services that you’ll need), don’t worry - these aren’t things that you’ll need to do on a daily basis. What’s important is that you pay attention to your car and get regular maintenance so that you can enjoy your vehicle for many years to come.