Whether you have a used car or a new one, you need to make sure that you are taking good care of it so it lasts long into the future. Owning a car is a major expense so the better able you are to take care of it, then the cheaper it will cost you in the long run. The idea is to keep your car running in tip-top shape so you don’t have to buy a new car every few years and deal with years of car payments.
If you take care of the routine car maintenance then your car will require fewer repairs. Although there are plenty of used car warranty companies that will cover your unexpected repairs, it’s best to prevent them the best you can. In this article, we will go over several of the things you should be doing to keep your car maintained.
1 – Adjust and replace brakes
Brake pads wear down over time and need to be replaced. All too often, people don’t replace these or adjust their brakes in any way. When the pads are worn out, there is a part of the caliper that will start gouging the disc. The disc is then compromised and will lead to faulty braking.
When you have to replace the disc, you end up spending hundreds more to have your brakes completely replaced. By doing routine brake maintenance, you will avoid a higher bill later on. In addition to that, you will be driving a safer car since your brakes will always be in peak performance.
There is also brake fluid that helps the hydraulics of the braking system. This is under the hood of the car. When you change your oil you should also check the brake fluid to make sure it is topped off and not low.
2 – Keep it tuned up
A tuned up car offers a smooth ride that is also quiet. This is because the spark plugs control a lot more of the engine’s performance than most people realize. Old spark plugs may miss a spark here and there and that affects other engine parts. Even plugs that are not gapped properly will cause problems.
Over time, these irregular sparks will start to cause damage to the engine since it makes the engine work hard to propel the car. Keeping the car tuned up on time will avoid a lot of that damage so the car alwayus runs smoothly and efficiently.
3 – Change the oil on time
Over time, oil that lubricates the parts of the engine starts to break down. The heat and friction makes the oil less lubricating which then causes many engine parts to start wearing out. When you change the oil on time, these parts won’t wear out quite as fast.
Your car’s owner’s manual will tell you how many miles it takes before you should change the oil. Make sure to make it a regularly scheduled thing so you can extend the life of your car.