The U.S. should have around 260 million cars on the road by 2018, and yet the average car owner has no idea what is going on under the hood. Most car owners, especially those with old or used cars, understand that a regular maintenance schedule is essential for proper function, and yet they don’t always meet those requirements either. What they don’t understand is that by maintaining your car, and being in the know about the little car hacks that improve gas mileage and preserve parts, they can enjoy their fully and highly functioning vehicle for much longer than their neighbor who rarely brings their car into the shop.
Here are a couple of tips for car owners, whether its your first or your last vehicle, and how to take proper care of your vehicle:
- Get a tune up. At the auto repair shop, a tune up entails the tightening of all buts and bolts, a fluid top off, and more depending on the particular shop. You can improve gas mileage up to 4% with a proper tune up. In fact, has mileage may improve by as much as 40% after a big repair, so a tune up is a great place to start.
- You’re going to have to replace most brake pads around 20,000 miles, but i’s important to check out your owners manual for the specifics about your make and model.
- Rotating your tires is an essential part of car repair — it will ensure that they wear out at the same time, as well as keeping the alignment of your axles and rods in place.
- Remember to flush the coolant system and change the coolant solution at least once a year.
- New wiper blades are advisable after six months to a year of use.
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Most of all, it is important to set a schedule for repairs such as these. Work with your car dealer or auto repair service to make a calendar detail all of the updates and repairs you need to have done, from an oil change to smog inspection to engine maintenance.
