Whether you need car repair tips or you just want to incorporate some preventive maintenance into your everyday routine, keeping your car on the road is imperative for millions of Americans. So here are the best ways to do that and avoid another costly visit to your local auto repair richmond va.
Read the Owner’s Manual
This is the first place to look if you want to keep your car in good shape. That booklet in your glove compartment has everything you ever need to know about your vehicle from bumper to bumper. It tells you everything from the type of fuel to use to where your fuses are located to how you can change out the light bulbs in your turn signals.
There is a lot read and you should review it from cover to cover, otherwise you could be making some critical mistakes in the way you drive your car and not even realize it.
Tire Pressure
The tires of your car are probably the four most important components of the entire vehicle. Sure, you need the motor to make it run and fuel to keep it moving but without the tires you aren’t going anywhere. Even more important, however, is that your tires can have a significant impact on the way your car drives and how quickly you expend that fuel.
This is where tire pressure comes in and when your tires are not properly inflated, you aren’t just running the risk of poor gas mileage but you could be putting you and your family at risk in the event you suffer a blowout on the highway.
Check the Oil
Driving your vehicle with dirty oil is going to put the entire car at risk. Dirty oil can clog an engine and low levels of oil can just ruin it entirely. Which is why you must check the levels on a regular basis and change it out at least every 3000 miles.
Though in today’s cars that 3000-mile threshold is a little less rigid as engines are being manufactured differently than they were even a decade ago. In addition, there are many types of synthetic oils that can go for far longer than just 3000 miles before they need to be changed.
But also keep in mind how often you drive the car, the type of traffic in which you typically drive most often, and your vehicle’s make and model to consider when you need to change the oil.
Your Driving Habits
The wear and tear your car receive can have a major impact on the longevity of your car and the various assorted parts and components from which it is made. You can reduce those effects by taking a good long look at the way you drive your car and consider making changes that are putting undue stress and strain on it.
You might realize that you are decreasing the life span of the car and see a difference in the way your car responds.