To increase the longevity of a vehicle, drivers and car owners must continue upkeep through preventative maintenance. This may seem demanding, but it pays off in the end and provides a more reliable vehicle. So, for those hoping to make their car last as long as possible, try to stay on top of the following maintenance jobs most people overlook.
Ignoring the Check Engine Light
When your car is operating fine, it may be tempting to ignore that check engine light when it appears. However, putting off an inspection can lead to more problems later, and it may cause what would have been a small problem early to be a big problem later. The sooner the car is looked at, the less expensive its repairs will be.
Not Checking Tire Pressure
It’s a common mistake to forget to check tire pressure. Even if the tires appear to be fine, they can still be low on pressure. The car should be fine to drive, but the low pressure may affect gas mileage. Tires tend to lose air pressure after running over potholes or dips from speed bumps, and weather also has an effect on tire pressure. A newer vehicle model may have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light to notify you when a tire’s close to deflating, but if not try to remain aware of pressure levels to avoid flats and constant fill ups.
Skipping Oil Changes
Depending on how a car is made, it might be fine to prolong getting an oil change, but this doesn’t mean you can skip them altogether. A vehicle’s engine needs motor oil to function properly, and avoiding a proper oil change could kill your engine completely.
Driving While Overheating
Everyone may be guilty of doing this. However, it still isn’t the best thing to do and could cause more problems with your car. It’s normal to see your temperature gauge to rise to the middle, but if it continues to rise, you should stop driving the car immediately. The engine gets hot when it runs and needs a proper cooling system. To maintain that, make sure the car has a fair amount of coolant, the fans are working properly, and there aren’t any holes in your radiator hose. If you’re on the road and start to overheat, the best thing to do is to pull over and call a tow.
Putting Off Tune Ups
It may seem like less of a hassle to avoid taking your car in for a tune up, but it is essential for making sure everything’s running efficiently. While there, make sure the filters are replaced to avoid contaminants. Also, have the tires rotated and the wheels aligned to prevent any worn treads. Finally, have your brakes inspected to make sure they’re working properly. To make it easier on your wallet, you don’t have to get all of those inspections at once, but the goal is to make sure they get done as a form of preventative maintenance.
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