All posts tagged auto maintenance

Preventative Measures to Maintain Your Vehicle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/03/16 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

It’s important that you give your car regular, preventative maintenance to ensure that it runs well. If you ignore the preventative maintenance needed for your car, you could end up with more money owed in repairs than it would have cost for the maintenance.

Oil Changes

While you can check your fluids and fill them yourself, you might need a professional to perform an oil change unless you’re handy. There’s a dipstick that you can use to check the level and color of the oil in your vehicle. If you notice that you need to add oil frequently, you could have a problem. Oil that was recently changed that looks muddy could be cause for concern. There’s a lot you can learn about your engine by checking the oil. Your car manual should tell you how often you should get the oil changed.

Engine Air Filters

At the same time that your oil is being changed, you can have the person check the air filters. The engine air filter is used to keep dust and dirt from entering the valves. A dirty or clogged filter won’t allow air to enter the parts that need it the most, which can cause the car to stop running correctly. If you drive in the city for extended periods, the filter might need to be changed often. Check the owner’s manual for the exact mileage.

Tune Ups

When it comes to spark plugs, wires, hoses and engine, you should visit a mechanic for preventative maintenance. If you wait for a problem, you could end up with mechanical issues that won’t be resolved by changing your plugs and wires. Professionals, like those at Free Service Tire Company, also recommends changing your fluids regularly. That way, your engine will stay in good condition for a longer period of time. Mechanics can also perform the other tasks like oil changes and changing air filters too.

Tire Pressure and Wear

You don’t need someone to check your tire pressure, or to see that your tires are wearing down unevenly. You should keep your tires filled based on what the best pressure is for the brand of tires you have. When your tires are wearing unevenly, it could mean you need a front-end alignment or you need to have your tires rotated. It’ll help your tires last longer.
You should give your vehicle regular, preventative maintenance checkups to ensure that your car doesn’t need more expensive repairs later. It can be extremely dangerous to ignore your car’s maintenance needs or delay problems like leaks or unexpected sounds. It’ll cost you more time and money later to fix those problems that could have been prevented.

How to Best Prepare and Maintain Your Vehicle on a Long Road Trip

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/09/04 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Road trips are a fun way to see a lot of new places in a short amount of time. You can drive through small towns, winding countryside, and fun landmarks on your way to a big city. If you’re planning the road trip of a lifetime (across the country, perhaps) it’s important to prepare your car for the long haul ahead. Nothing is worse on a road trip than a broken down car in the middle of nowhere.

Check the following items off your list before setting off into the sunset.

Clean and Organize

You’ll be spending the next week or two basically living in your car. While the prospect sounds adventurous, prepare the inside of your car to avoid stress and lost items. Make a spot for trash, luggage, easily accessible snacks, maps, and phones.

Inspect Tires

Your tires take a lot of wear and tear when you drive long distances in a road trip. Inspect your tires to avoid a blowout on the highway. Look for uneven wear and thin treads. You can stick a penny upside down inside the tread. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, your tread is low. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, as well.

Replace Windshield and Wipers

You may be holding out to replace a cracked windshield for a time when you have more cash to spare. But road trips have a tendency to throw small rocks up into your windshield. You don’t want a windshield to crack and break while you’re on a trip, so take care of that now. While you’re at it, replace your windshield wipers so you can drive safely in rainy weather.

Top Off Fluids

Your car can’t run properly without the help of a bevy of fluids. Check transmission fluid, wiper fluid, engine oil, and coolant to see if they need replacement or topping off.

Prepare for Emergencies

Always prepare for the worst when setting out on a road trip. Have an emergency plan in place in case you get stranded at night and need to be rescued. Have a tow truck number on hand, put a jack in your trunk, and keep extra car fluids back there, as well. If you encounter small problems, you’ll have the tools to fix them yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be able to easily contact a towing company to get you out of a bind. It’s important to find a company that is quick to respond, according to Big Lake towing experts.

When you prepare your car for a road trip, always talk with a mechanic to make sure big problems won’t happen while you’re away. When you’re prepared, you can properly enjoy your road trip without fear of a break down.

Five Quick Fixes Every New Driver Should Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/03 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

New drivers may be tempted to take their car into the shop for every minor problem just because they do not have much experience fixing automobiles. But this is often a very expensive route to take. Taking the time to learn several quick car repairs will make driving much easier and your wallet fuller. These five quick fixes can be learned quickly by every new driver to save money and time.

Flat Tire

While you never want to get a flat tire while driving, preparing for the worst is always a wise decision. If you never learn how to change a flat tire, then you will be forced to wait hours on the side of the road, when the problem can be fixed in a few minutes.

Oil Change

Changing the oil may seem like a major hassle to most new drivers, but it is something that has to be done to ensure the car runs correctly. Depending on the vehicle, your oil should be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. While an oil change is far cheaper than a Calgary transmission repair at a body shop, oil and a funnel can be purchased for only a few dollars at many grocery stores.

Jump Starting a Car

Learning to jump start your car is another skill new drivers need to learn so you are not stranded on the side of the road for hours. There is no reason to wait for roadside assistance when you can jump a car in seconds. While jump starting a car will require the assistance of someone else, it should not take long to find a willing person in most emergencies.

Replacing Filters

Replacing the oil and air filter regularly will guarantee your car continues to run properly. As National Transmissions says, it only takes seconds to make sure your filters are still clean. Since replacement filters can be easily installed, every new driver should handle the fix themselves.

Changing Battery

When batteries get too old, they will stop working, and it will be impossible to start the car. Car batteries can be purchased at most auto part stores. They will even install the battery for a fee, but this is fee can easily be avoided. New drivers may have to take some time learning how to replace a battery, but this skill will be used several times throughout your life.

Learning these five quick car fixes will keep your car running properly, save you money, and save you time. Everyone who regularly drives a car should know how to maintain it properly, and that starts with learning these easy repairs.

Extend the Life of Your Vehicle: Tips to Keep Your Car in the Best Condition

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/08/13 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

With the high cost of both new and used vehicles, you want your car to last as long as possible. Taking care of your vehicles not only makes them last longer but can also improve their retail and trade-in value. Here are some tips on how to extend the life of your vehicle.

Maintain the Paint Job

You’d be surprised how many people turn their backs on reliable vehicles because they have some rust. Weather can do a lot of damage to your car’s paint job, especially if you don’t keep it in a garage. Keep your vehicle washed and clean during inclement weather, particularly if you live in states with salt on wintry roads. Wax your car when needed to protect the pain and keep your car looking great.

Keep the Interior Clean

Although the interior of your car has little to do with how it operates, it can affect retail or trade-in value significantly. Many people do judge how a car has been maintained under the hood with how it looks inside. In addition, keeping your interior clean can keep the upholstery and carpeting looking better and prevent tears and stains.

Get Regular Maintenance Checkups

Unless you’re a professional mechanic, you’re probably not going to be able to recognize a problem with the same swiftness as a mechanic. Regular checkups and tune-ups not only help repair damaged parts, but act as a preventative measure towards potential problems in the future, say the professionals at Minit-Tune International Corp. When you go to sell your car, having slips designated regular maintenance checks is a good selling point.

Maintain Your Tires

Keeping your tires properly inflated and in good working condition can prevent uneven wear and tear and can also prevent other parts from becoming damaged, which can result in higher repair costs. You’ll also get better mileage and a smoother ride.

Have Professionals Repair Your Vehicle

As much as we all like to repair things ourselves to save money, sometimes it’s just better to leave it to the professionals, especially if you don’t have time. There are several benefits to having professionals repair your vehicle. The main benefit is that they have diagnostic tools to help them determine the problem rather than doing a lot of unnecessary repairs just as a method of “process of elimination”. Also, when you have the repairs done professionally, they’re warranted.

Take Care of Problems in Their Early Stages

Early repairs usually mean smaller bills. In addition, if you fail to fix a problem in its early stages, it can develop into a large problem and a higher repair cost.

Maintaining your vehicle is important for many reasons but mostly to extend the life as long as possible. It’s a lot easier than you might thing if you make it a good habit.

Inspection Smarts: Tips to Stay on Top of Your Car Maintenance

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/26 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

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.