Important Maintenance for your Vehicle
In the modern era the automobile has become a staple part of everyday life for many people requiring a reliable working machine to consistently get you where you need to go. Staying up to date with core maintenance of your vehicle greatly decreases the chance of a breakdown and can save a lot of money by avoiding costly repairs. Here at Columbiana’s service department, we want to help you stay informed and give you some tips on how to check up and keep your car in great working condition! Continue reading on to learn more about important maintenance you can perform yourself to keep your vehicle in top-notch quality.
Check Your Oil
The engine is the heart of every motor vehicle, and the oil is the life-blood that keeps your engine alive. Engine oil keeps the inner workings lubricated, allowing them to reduce the amount of wasted energy and heat that gets generated as long as the oil remains smooth and fluid. When the oil starts to get older, it wears out from the consistent heat applied over long stretches of time as well as becoming contaminated from gas and tiny amounts of metal causing this vital component to be less effective at lubricating the engine. The good news is staying up to date with oil changes drastically increases the lifetime of your engine and helps prevent breakdowns. Checking the oil yourself is an easy task and most modern cars help track the progress of the oil lifetime; Check your owner’s manual to find out the proper maintenance!
Replace Windshield Wipers
Visibility is crucial while on the road to help prevent accidents and help you stay attentive on the drive. One universal factor with a car’s inspection is whether or not the windshield wipers function as intended. Having a smooth clearing of precipitation without much strain allows for you to see effectively in harsh weather conditions. Purchasing and changing windshield wipers has never been easier, with self-purchased wiper blades and owner’s manual coming with clear instructions on how to accomplish this task yourself! If you feel up to some extra work, cleaning your windshield and wipers can also reduce scratches and cracks that can form over long periods of time.
Healthy Tires
Tires are built with treads (lines carved into the rubber) to help displace water and dirt in order for your tires to make contact with the road giving you traction. Checking tire treads and pressure is an important and fast task to accomplish. Purchase a cheap tire pressure gauge to check the air pressure levels in the tires themselves; this quick check will let you know if you need to balance the levels with an air pump (which are frequent at your local gas stations) saving you money and fuel economy. Having your tires rotated and have the alignment checked by your mechanic will increase the lifetime of your tires significantly and save money overall.
Learn to Inspect Your Car and Read the Owner’s Manual
Knowing how your car is feeling during a given week will allow you to stay ahead of repairs and maintenance that will be required in the future helping you budget and save money. The owner’s manual is your source to learn how to do certain checks and when they may need to be given some extra attention. Checking and filling the windshield wiper fluid is easy and using the dipstick to check your oil levels and quality can tell you if you need your oil changed. Getting access to the car’s air filters is as straightforward as opening a box in most cars. Checking over your timing and serpentine belts keep your car moving and lets you know if you should ask your mechanic to replace them. Make sure all of your car lights are working properly and listen for any strange sounds when you are on your next drive.
Car maintenance can appear to be a time-consuming and daunting task at first glance, but regular checks don’t take much time and greatly extend the life of your vehicle. Universal tips you find here give you a good idea of what to look at in your car, but your own practice and experience with your personal vehicle will help you figure out exactly when and what needs to be done. If you have any questions, we here at Columbiana's service department are standing by to help you out and assist with keeping your vehicle in top shape and get you back on the road in no time. You can reach us or find out more about our service department by clicking here!