You are what you eat, just like you are what you drive. Take a minute to think about how you treat your body. What you eat and how you maintain it can affect the way you feel. You should apply the same mindset to how you treat your car. Many factors can affect your car’s lifespan and by understanding its basic functions, you can help to extend the life of your car and maximize your investment. Most cars come with a “good health” manual, it’s your cars Maintenance Guide, and if you follow it then you’ll be in great shape. If you can’t find your guide or bought a used vehicle that didn’t have one, here are a few basic tips to keep your car rolling along.
- Change your oil and oil filter every three to five thousand miles. Oil is the life blood of your engine (you wouldn’t run too well without blood!). Do this on a regular basis and you will avoid break downs and expensive repairs. It’s 30 bucks every three months, no excuses.
- Rotate your tires every other oil change. It will prolong the life of your tires (since nowadays tires cost as much as a weekend in Vegas!) and your vehicle will stay handling and riding much better than if you don’t do it.
- Have your battery tested once a year. Nothing is worse than missing the first day of your new job because your battery is dead (or maybe leaving that someplace that maybe you shouldn’t be at in the first place and you have to call someone to get a jump!).
- Replace your wiper blades once a year (like you would your contacts). Consult your mechanic (or ophthalmologist!).
- Service your automatic transmission once a year, by doing so it will keep it shifting properly and smoothly. This is the backbone of your car—we all know how we get old and are not able to move around like we used to! Luckily, having your transmission serviced will help you car last (but maybe not your back!).
- Change your coolant once a year. It will keep your vehicle operating at the correct temps and help to avoid overheating and breaking down (on that dark lonely road that Jason and Freddy happen to live on!).
- Change your air filter and in-cabin filter every three months. This keeps the right amount of air flowing to the engine and helps to maximize your fuel mileage. The in-cabin filter is for your health as it filters the air you breath that’s coming into your vehicle, so you get fresh, clean air (verses turning on your A/C and feeling like you just walked into the smokers lounge at the airport!).
- Keep your car clean by going to the car wash every couple of weeks. Not only does it keep your car looking good, but it also helps to maintain your resale value. (Besides, your fellow drivers don’t want to have to look at something that looks like it just came off safari in the outback!)
So just follow these tips and you should experience joyous automobile ownership. (Of course you could choose not to do these simple things, in which case I’ll honk as I roll by you sitting in the emergency lane.)
Need help finding a car to extend the life of? Contact Members AutoChoice today!
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