3 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car Running Change your oil in the recommended time frame. Most oils request a change every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Others will give you 5 months and 5,000 miles, but they generally cost a bit more to do. Some consumers question the validity of this recommendation, thinking it’s a scam to get more money from oil changes. Others will argue that it’s perfectly valid. That point will not be argued here.
Keep the Engine Lubricated What you can take away from this is that when your oil isn’t at the right level or is too dirty, it can’t perform it’s essential function: to lubricate engine. Without proper lubrication, the contact of two metal forces will create enough heat to weld your cylinders to the walls. That kind of problem usually requires expensive engine work, and most-likely a replacement of the whole unit. What’s the harm then in checking your oil fairly often? Even if you’re checking the oil level yourself and find it satisfactory for months, dirt still gets into it. Dirty oil is thick, and hard for the engine to use. Too much dirt makes it almost as useless as no oil. Why not change it for its level and dirt? Changing your oil regularly at an auto shop or by yourself is essential to keeping your engine running for a very long-time to come. Change it often.
Change the Air Filter Change your air filter. A very dirty air filter can actually reduce your fuel economy, performance, and emissions. Filters that are really caked with dirt will need to be removed, but not every dirty one will be. A slightly dirty one will actually help you more that it will hinder (as it’s collected enough big particles to help block out the small ones). If you do a lot of city driving, you probably won’t need to replace it more than once every year or so. If you do a lot of country driving, on dirt roads, you will have to replace it much more often than a city dweller.
Change your filter when it gets too dirty. You’ll learn what that means with time. Take it in for regular check-ups. Like a person, regular checkups to the doctor help you identify health issues before they become problems. Have a mechanic give your car a look through it fairly often. Check your owner’s manual for mileage recommendations. They will often give you good advice about when to have certain fluids and parts checked out or replaced. Check your owner’s manual for the designated check-ups, and then try to set up times in between those visits to visit a nearby mechanic you trust. Just like finding a doctor, choose a mechanic that you can trust. Do your research and find someone that is honest and good at his craft. Follow these 3 tips and you’ll keep your car running for a long-time. Every car is an investment; why not keep it for as long as possible? Heuer Insurance offers car insurance in Sparks, Nevada. Heuer understands that even the best laid plans will sometimes go awry. They will help you maintain your investment by helping to cover life’s little accidents with real car insurance in Sparks, Nevada. See how good car insurance in Sparks, Nevada can help you extend the life of your investment.