Car Care Tips
Many people take good care of their car. Some people take their vehicle to the car wash every two weeks or if their car has driven over 3000 miles. Washing your car is a marginal way to keep your vehicle clean, it is also necessary to protect the paint and to check parts and fluids.
Belts & Hoses:
If you’re planning for a long trip, check all the engine’s accessory belts. Check whether the belts have any visible damage, abnormal wear or small hairline cracks. If you see any damage in the belt, replace it immediately. Also check upper and lower radiator periodically. Inspect all hoses for wear, including hairline cracks and soft, bulging spots. Do change heater hoses every 50,000 miles.
Brakes:
One of the most important parts of the car is its brakes. Do check the master cylinder periodically. Many people look at master cylinder when there is a brake failure. If you see any signs of brake fluid, tighten the fittings using a line wrench on brake-line nuts to prevent against rounding off their shoulders. Do check brake shoes and or caliper pads regularly. For vehicles with disk brakes, replace the pads with whatever style the manufacturer recommends.
Wash & polish:
Paint manufactures have to meet EPA standards. New cars are painted with urethane products and most factories use two and three stage paints. So it is important that you use car-care produces that are designed for these finishes. Read the label prior to buying the wax or other surface treatment to assure paint compatibility.
Glass care:
Do clean your windshield every morning. There are various products available in the market, which will wash your windshield properly. Then wipe the windshield with a paper towel. If there are any scratches on the surface, glass polishing products can make your windshield look new.
Wipers & Washers:
Wipers and Washers are very important parts of your car, and they need periodic maintenance. Windshield wiper blades should be replaced once a year to maintain a perfect seal against the glass. Windshield washer reservoir should also be checked and filled with a cleaning product, not just water.
Lights:
Lights should also be checked periodically. Turn on your emergency flasher and see if all four lights flash. Then individually try the right and left turn signal to make sure they are working front and rear. It is very dangerous to drive a car with faulty brake lights. If any of the lights are not working, replace the bulb.
Interior:
Interiors should be cleaned and maintained properly. Some of the things that you should do to keep your interior clean are vacuum the carpets. Leather interiors require special conditioners to keep the skins soft and pliable.
Joints:
All moving parts should be inspected and lubricated every few months. Areas to be particularly concerned with are driveshaft U joints and, in front-wheel-drive cars, half shafts and CV-joints. All your wheel bearings should be inspected and repacked every 20,000 miles and all under car-fuel lines and brake lines looked at as well.
Tire care:
Get into the habit of visually inspecting sidewall bulges and checking air pressure at every gas stop because a tire pressure gauge is more cheaper than a new set of tires. Proper inflation pressure makes tires last longer and it also improves the vehicle’s fuel economy. Inexpensive tires can last for 30,000 miles while expensive brands often go over 50,000. Periodically inspect the sidewalls for cracking or splitting.
Wheels:
All new vehicles are factory-equipped with alloy wheels. All Alloy wheels get caked with disc-brake dust and road grime. It’s important to select a cleaner that’s designed for your wheel type. For example, clear-coated wheels should be cleaned with a different cleaner than natural-finish alloy or steel wheels.
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