An old adage states that a car is past its prime once it hits 100,000 miles. However, thanks to new technologies, many cars drive across the 200,000-mile line without major incident.
If you have a vehicle, how can you help it go the distance? One way to boost the lifespan of your car is by performing regular car maintenance.
If you have a mechanic and trust them completely, great! Take your car in every 6 months and let them have free reign over the car care. If you want to learn some vehicle maintenance tips, keep reading!
1. Stay On Top Of Tires
One of the simplest ways to extend the life of your tires is to regularly have them rotated. The different locations of the tires on the car mean they wear out in different ways. Depending on the roads, the speed you drive, and your car, the front and back tires wear down at different rates.
Once the tire tread is less than 2/32nds of an inch deep, they should be replaced. A site like https://www.ozzytyres.com.au/ has a convenient tool on the homepage to help you figure out the specific tires you need for the make and model of your car.
Additionally, don’t forget to periodically check your spare tire. First, make sure you have one! Next, make sure you check that it’s inflated and ready to go when you need it.
2. Change The Oil
Because the oil enables a car engine to run smoothly, running out of oil can be a deadly mistake for your engine. Engines cost $3,000-$6,000 dollars to replace. An oil change costs between $20 to $70.
You can see that it’s worth it to keep your oil fresh and in high supply.
3. Listen To Your Brakes
Do your brakes sound like the background track of a bad scary movie? Grinding, clattering, rattling, squeaking, and squealing? Oh my!
At the first sign of noise from your brakes, take them in for an inspection. It’s true, the $300 to $400 price tag to replace the brake pads feels hefty. However, you’ll be glad you did when it’s time to slam on your brakes in the rain before slamming into the back of a Tesla.
4. Clean Your Battery
The terminals on your battery may develop a white or bluish powder. This is corrosion. Keep your battery clean to prevent cracking, and keep it functioning properly.
Turn off the engine and disconnect the cables (negative then positive). Now you can clean your battery by mixing together baking soda and water. Scrub the terminals with your mixture and a toothbrush or soft wire brush.
5. Check the Air Filter
The last car maintenance tip is to change your air filter every 12,000 miles or 12 months. The air filter works to clean pollutants out of the air that comes through the vents.
Using an old air filter makes your AC system work harder than it needs to. Not good!
Regular Car Maintenance Will Help You Go The Distance
You can see the benefit of regular car maintenance. Keeping your major car systems in check will keep your car running longer!
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