The Basics: Preventative Maintenance You Should Be Performing Regularly On Your Vehicle

Routine preventative maintenance is the best thing you can do as a car owner to keep your vehicle riding smooth and for longer. However, not everyone seems to know the basic things to check for when keeping your vehicle in good shape. Don't avoid important actions or you could end up spending more for repairs. Instead, perform these basic preventative maintenance steps and enjoy peace of mind:

Check Your Fluids

Even if you aren't knowledgeable about how to change out your coolant, power steering fluid, or wiper fluid, you should learn to check their levels just in case. Many of these will have a clear tank that you can see into, but other times a gauge or dipstick will be available to measure with. In the case of the dipstick, pull it out once and wipe it off with a paper towel. Then insert it back in and pull it out once more, noting the level of saturation. If the fluid is below the marked line, it's time to deal with it.

Inspect Timing and Serpentine Belts

One of the sneakiest problems that can occur is that of your belts giving out. For older cars, this is more likely to occur. That is because if they aren't checked every 150,000 miles or so, they can wear out and cause you to break down. Your auto professional can inspect these with no problem.

Oil

You should always check your oil regularly and get it changed at set intervals. Namely, this should happen at 3,000 miles or less. If you let your vehicle go longer than this, your engine will perform poorly and can even burn up for good. Have you seen the price of engines lately? We wouldn't recommend letting this happen. Your friendly professional can change your oil in no time and at a reasonable cost.

Spark Plugs

You should change your spark plugs at around 45,000 to 100,000 miles. While you can't see them, you should know that they tend to buildup gunk and cause breakdowns. Often times, this comes in the form of breaking down on the highway or not being able to start your car in the first place. It can be a complicated job, so simply note your mileage and visit the auto shop when you reach 25,000 miles.

The importance of performing regular checkups on your vehicle cannot be overstated. By checking these basic items on your vehicle, you can get it to a mechanic sooner and save time and money on the repairs and maintenance. So do yourself a favor and commit this list to memory and enjoy a happier, healthier car. To learn more, visit Brach's Auto Center Inc. 


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