Times are tough right now, but you still have responsibilities. And one of the most important responsibilities you probably have right now is making sure that your car is running at its best. After all, you can’t go to work and run your errands without a properly running vehicle.
Of course, vehicle maintenance can be expensive but there are some things you can do at home, on your own time, to save some money. Sure, it is often worth it to pay a professional CrossDrilledRotors.ca mechanic to take care of your car but with just a little time you can learn how to manage your vehicle between much bigger repair and maintenance jobs.
Check [And Change] Your Fluids
This is one of the first things you should learn about when you own a car. Obviously, you will need to make sure you to keep your gas tank full but you will also want to monitor your coolant/antifreeze as well as automatic transmission fluid (if you have an automatic) and things like brake fluid as well. Checking these fluids is typically simple and replacing them/changing them typically only requires tools you probably already have and, perhaps, a few other materials that you can pick up at any auto parts store.
Rotate [And Also Change And Balance] Your Tires
It is recommended that you rotate your tires every few months. This means moving front tires to the rear and rear tires to the front, essentially. Since many cars are front wheel drive, the front tires wear differently than the back tires. Rotating them once in a while, then, ensures that they will wear evenly—and you will get the most mileage out of them before you need to replace them.
Check [And Clean] Your Battery
Fittingly, if your car doesn’t start it is probably an electrical problem. However, it might not mean that you have a dead battery. If you properly clean your battery cables it will ensure that your car continues to get proper voltage. In addition, though, if you check your battery once in while you can also test it to make sure that it is not time to replace it.
Check [And Replace] Your Filters
Finally, you should also check your car’s filters. There are three basic filters you need to check:
- Oil Filter
- Air Filter
- Fuel Filter
These are a little more complicated than pulling a disptick or draining the oil pan, but they are easy enough to do. The air filter is under the hood while the oil filter is in the oil pan beneath the front end of your car. The fuel filter could be in one of several places so check your manual (or ask a professional to point it out) to find it.