4 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car in Top Shape
Do you know someone whose car just won’t give up?
No matter how many years they’ve had their old beater for, it seems to keep running. Have you wondered what the secret is?
At Rivercity Motors, the mechanics know that there is no secret to keeping your car in top shape throughout the years – it’s simply a matter of giving your car the proper care and maintenance.
Read on to find out how you can keep your car running smoothly for many years to come.
1. Check Your Oil Regularly
This is probably the number one tip to keep your car running smoothly: check your oil at least once a month. Checking your oil frequently acts as an early-warn system – you’ll know exactly how much oil your car is burning, and you’ll be able to see the signs of any problems before they arise.
You’ve probably heard that you should change your oil either every three months or every 3,000 miles – whichever happens first. However, this is old advice. The engines of today are much more advanced, and oil doesn’t degrade as quickly. Automakers now recommend getting an oil change every 5,000 or 7,500 miles.
Nevertheless, if you do a lot of stop-and-start driving in traffic, leave your car idling for extended periods, or drive in extreme weather conditions, you should change your oil more frequently than the automaker’s recommendation. Don’t forget to make sure you’re using the right oil for your car.
2. Change Your Transmission and Differential Oil
Your oil isn’t the only fluid that needs to be checked and changed frequently – you need to change your transmission and differential oils as well. Generally, your transmission fluid should be changed around every 30,000 miles – but don’t take this number as the rule of thumb; consult your owner’s manual to be sure.
Front-wheel drive cars don’t need to have their differential fluid changed because the differential is located at the front of the vehicle, so it will share fluid with the transmission. In rear-wheel-drive cars, however, differential oil should be replaced at the same time as the transmission fluid.
3. Change Your Brake Fluid
You probably don’t need to be told that your brakes are the second-most important component of your car – so you need to take care of them accordingly. Maintaining your brakes means regularly checking the brake fluid. Brake fluid is highly hydrophilic, which can lead to problems like rust and corrosion.
Your brake fluid should be drained and replaced every year to ensure that you and other drivers are safer on the road.
4. Clean Your Car
Believe it or not, there’s more to your car than just cleaning it out and spraying it down once in a while.
While you travel on the road, the underside of your car picks up all kinds of grime, as well as winter salt. When you wash your car, you should spray the underside to remove any buildup it may have picked up.
Cleaning your car’s exterior will also help maintain its value. And, psychologically speaking, having a shiny and clean car will also encourage you to take better care of it.
