10 Car Maintenance Tips For Car Owners
Whether you’re a new car owner or have had one for a long time, following a car maintenance checklist is a must. It’s a smart idea to ensure your car’s longevity as it will help you identify potential problems before they become too big.
These are all easy tasks you should do regularly, and most don’t require any special expertise other than a basic knowledge of your vehicle. Further, you can do most of these by yourself, but for some others, it’s recommended to take your vehicle to a service center.
10 great car maintenance tips you should always keep in mind
1. Conduct regular visual inspections
At least once a day, preferably when you first start your car, conduct a visual inspection. Walk all around it and inspect it thoroughly. Are there any dents, chips, scratches, or damage visible? Does anything look off? Closely check the chassis, rims and especially the tires – make sure they aren’t worn out or deflated.
2. Clean your engine cover
Cleaning your engine from the outside is very important. If it remains uncleaned for a long time, debris buildup could potentially cause great damage. So, keep your engine cover clean. It is recommended to get a professional to do it to avoid unwanted damage.
3. Check the oil levels
Your car contains many mechanical parts that rub against each other, creating friction. Engine oil is what minimizes that friction and ensures your car runs smoothly. So, always check your engine oil levels and make sure to top it up when it’s low. If you don’t know how to do this, take your car to any car maintenance center in Dubai or Abu Dhabi – or wherever you stay – and they will check it for you.
4. Pay attention to your car battery
Your car’s battery is a key component as it generates the electrical current that powers the vehicle. Make sure you regularly inspect your battery to ensure it doesn’t suddenly break down on you. This is again something a service center would be better equipped to check.
5. Check your tire pressure
Keeping your tire pressure in the optimal range is important since it impacts everything from how your car handles on the road to the fuel economy and the comfort of your ride. Get the pressures checked regularly – say twice a month, or whenever you go to fill fuel.
6. Check all your lights
We don’t have to stress how important your car’s lights are. That includes front and rear indicators on both sides, as well as both headlights and taillights. Every time you start your car, it’s a good idea to check that all of them work properly. Needless to say, if even one light isn’t working, get it fixed immediately. This will keep you and other drivers safe, and help you avoid fines as well.
7. Maintain your spark plugs
Spark plugs are responsible for your engine’s efficiency, since they ignite the fuel and air mixture which powers your vehicle. Therefore, it is important to ensure that they function well at all times, otherwise your engine will lose power.
8. Rotate your tires
Rotating your tires is important to maintain your car’s performance and safety levels. Doing this gives the car a faster steering response and maintains a smoother ride. It also ensures equal wear across the tires which increases their longevity.
9. Inspect your car fluids
Another thing you should do is to check the various car fluids regularly. This helps maintain your vehicle’s longevity and keeps it functioning well. Fluids include your car’s engine coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid.
10. Check if your less-used car functions are still operational
Many vehicles come with additional functions we don’t often use. So, during your car maintenance checkup, switch on functions you don’t normally use and check if they still work. This may include putting options like all-wheel drive, paddle shifter mode, traction control, sports mode, or simply checking other functions such as cruise control or your entertainment system.
And that’s it! If you follow these car maintenance tips regularly, you will be able to spot any minor issues and get them fixed before they become major ones!