If you are like many other people and spend countless hours in your car each week, you probably want to keep it running well for as long as possible. In order to ensure this, you should be keeping up on routine maintenance. There are many small things you can be doing on a regular basis to keep your car in tip-top shape. Here are some of the best tips to help you with that.
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Get Regular Oil Changes
Any car buff will tell you that changing your oil regularly is super important when it comes to the life of your vehicle. If you have a friend or family member who knows how to change oil, you may consider asking them to teach you so that you can save money by doing it yourself. It is also pretty easy to find affordable oil changing places such as Jiffy Lube or Valvoline in just about any city. As for how often it should be done, this will depend on the make and model of your car and also how many miles a year you put on it. Ask a mechanic how often you should be changing your oil and set an alarm in the calendar on your phone so you don’t forget.
Align Your Wheels
Aligning your wheels is another simple and inexpensive thing you should be doing on a regular basis to help your car live a very long life. If you go in to get an oil change, they should actually be able to do it there for you for a very minimal charge. Unfortunately this one is not as easy to do yourself because it requires the use of a special wheel alignment machine.
Don’t Let It Sit For Too Long
Perhaps you have multiple vehicles and there is one you drive less than the others, or you have a car or truck that you exclusively use for road trips or camping trips. Just be careful never to let your car sit for too long without running it as this can cause all kinds of issues. Try to start your car and run it for a little while or drive it around the block at least once a week or so to keep it in the best condition.
Replace Fluids
Checking fluid levels and replenishing them when they’re low will go a long way in ensuring the longevity of your car. Oil, brake fluids, and wiper fluids all need to be topped off on a regular basis and this is something that can easily be done by yourself at home. It’s definitely worth the ten minutes or so it takes if it will keep your car running for several thousand more miles!
Keeping up with routine maintenance on your car may seem like a daunting task, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. Doing just the simple things above on a regular basis will help add several years to the life of your car, saving you so much money and stress in the long run.
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