All posts tagged auto inspections

Expensive automobile repairs can be avoided by applying street smarts in the care and maintenance of your vehicle. You don’t have to wait for the next giant breakdown to get some work on the car done. Simple techniques and routine tasks by the owner can keep any vehicle in excellent condition. Use these preventative and maintenance measures to keep your car in good shape for any kind of road.

Checking Under the Hood

Always check the oil level, brake reservoir, power steering fluid, coolant level, and transmission fluid every week. Routine maintenance under the hood can save auto owners costly repairs. Check under the auto where it is parked for leaks. Make a habit of raising the hood during fuel stops to check for low fluid levels. Make sure you are regularly getting oil changes in north Vancouver or a local shop that can check all the parts of your car and do updates and inspections at a discount. Make sure you also make time to get these refills done before any long road trip.

Excessive Tire Wear

Keep the tire pressure at correct PSI levels for the auto. Many vehicles list the appropriate amount of tire pressure inside the driver-side door panel. Hot and cold conditions can make the pressure in tires vary over time leading to increased tire wear and fuel costs. Tires with low tread cost the automobile owner more money in gasoline mileage and excessive wear on brakes, including rotors. Checking air pressure in tires once a week will save vehicle owners money. Replacing older tires with low tread wear will help make driving the vehicle safer. This is a step that can be done every other time you get gas to make sure your tires aren’t being deflated.

Abusive Driving

Driving a vehicle extremely fast is tough on standard automobile engines. Many cars boast high horsepower output but in reality, the vehicles are simply designed for normal driving. Drivers that abuse the vehicle by driving at high speeds on the highway, jackrabbit starts, and quick stops at city red lights are adding additional costs from excessive wear on the vehicle. Learn to control the urge to treat the vehicle as a racecar.

Read the Owner’s Manual

The booklets supplied with the vehicle contain important information on that model. Always study the material in those handy booklets for additional information about the auto. These manuals give detailed information on driving, maintenance, and exterior care of the vehicle.

Additional Tips

Every car owner should know what warning lights show on the vehicle. Most autos have temperature, brake, oil pressure, battery or alternator and check engine warning lights. Learn where these lights are in the manual supplied with the vehicle. Replace old windshield wipers once they show signs of wear, including streaking on the windshield. Losing a wiper during a thunderstorm can be hazardous.

Keeping vehicles in excellent operating condition can add many years to the life of the auto. Make routine maintenance a weekly ritual to increase value and dependability of the vehicle.

This article used information from Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres about tire care and checking for tire wear.