Skip to main content

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

We all know proper care on our vehicle is essential to its long-term performance. It is just the same as us getting a routine check-up with the doctor to be sure we are in good health. Regular preventive maintenance can help save money on repairs in the future, and it doesn’t have to be difficult to check on a few things yourself. Basic maintenance items in your car like engine oil changes, transmission fluid, or tires should be a regular thing, it gives you a chance to catch anything serious before it becomes a bigger problem and cost you in the long run.

LifeHacker has a generic checklist designed to help give you a general idea of where to start. Different cars have different requirements, so it is best to start with your owners manual. If for some reason you don't have your car's manual, there are a few helpful websites you can refer to such as Edmunds. If you want to be a little more precautious, you can also take your car to a dealer or auto repair shop. Here are a few things to check, visit LifeHacker for more tips on what to check.

What to Check

-Start off with your own inspection. As basic as it is, give your car a once-over regularly, this can allow you to catch something out of the ordinary. Check your lights, the air pressure in your tires every month as well as the tread, listen for strange sounds inside and out of your vehicle. If you find anything out of the ordinary, don’t ignore it!

-Always check your fluids. Even if you don’t know how to change the antifreeze, power steering, coolant, or even your wiper fluid, you should at least know how to check the fluid levels. There are times when you can see the tank level directly, but most have gauges or dipsticks you can pull out to check current levels against a notch that indicates optimal levels. All in all, just don’t be afraid to pop the hood and have a look at the engine. And also remember: never ignore a leak.

-One of those important fluids to keep an eye on is your oil. Knowing the difference between clean oil and muddy/murky oil will save you a ton on unnecessary changes and gives you a way to tell if something’s wrong with your engine. Check your owners manual to find out how often it should be changed. Don’t just blindly follow the 3,000-mile myth though—for most vehicles it can be as high as 10,000 miles, depending on the oil your vehicle calls for (something else that’s in the manual).

-Checking and keeping your battery contacts clean is necessary for the battery life and life of your vehicle. Granted, most batteries don’t require a ton of maintenance, but you should make sure there are no leaks, and there are no mineral or other buildup on the contacts. If you find any mineral build-up, clean it using a wire brush. Consider buying a cheap battery tester or jump starter.

Williams Group Auto

These are only a few inspections to go over. These regular inspections are not only for the best interest of your vehicle but for your safety as well. Having a mechanic check it at least once a year can extend the life of your car. We can’t stress enough the importance of checking your owner’s manual for anything we may have overlooked here, or anything specific to your vehicle.

Our staff at Williams Group Auto want you to be safe on the road. We are proud to provide the people of Abilene reliable vehicles. Stop by our three locations or visit our website at www.williamsgroupauto.com to have a look at our stock of used trucks and cars for sale in Abilene.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Keeping Your Car Clean

Keeping Your Car Clean Owning a car comes with a lot of responsibility. And managing your car can become expensive, you need to register it, buy insurance, and maintain it. Another one of those responsibilities is keeping your vehicle clean, inside and out. With so many products and car care advice out there, it can be hard to pick what is right for your vehicle. Below are a few myths and facts that you may have wondered about, such as types of car soap, supplies, and other topics. This or That There might have come a time that you were out of car soap or heard from someone that dish detergent will clean your car. Well, it would CLEAN your vehicle, but dish detergent will actually speed up oxidation on the paint, and it will lead to a degradation of the paint job. A shiny car isn’t necessarily a clean car. To honestly know if your vehicle is clean, you should feel the paint to see if it feels glossy and not coarse. If it feels more like sandpaper, then the car isn’t clean, a...

Gift Ideas for Your Car Enthusiast

Gift Ideas for Your Car Enthusiast The holidays are a time of family, friends, giving, and celebration. But the stress of trying to figure out what to get everyone can ruin it. We say it every year, “I don’t know what to get so and so for Christmas.” Well, we can’t tell you what to get your 13-year-old daughter, but we have a few awesome ideas for the car enthusiast in your family. A List That Will Make Them Happy Let’s start the list with an ideal gift for anyone with a vehicle- high-quality car care products. There is a great website that basically puts a “gift basket” together with products to keep your vehicle looking like new. Man Crates is the perfect gift with more than just car care products. They have gifts that range from jerky to sports and gear. Check them out.  A phone mount is perfect for those who are in the (bad) habit of looking at their phone while driving. We are all guilty of it, but luckily you can find a wide variety of mounts on Amazon ranging in ...

Classic Cars You Have Seen in Movies

Classic Cars You Have Seen in Movies You have seen then in many movies, The Fast and Furious chain, Mad Max, or James Bond, and we all love them and want one. Popular Mechanics put together a list of cars that have been seen in classic movies, some you have seen and some you need to go out and rent, trust me. Check Them Out 1964 Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger- James Bond's legacy of famous cars and far-out gadgets can be traced back from one car—the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 007 driven in Goldfinger and Thunderball. Even without the spy modifications, (included ram bumper, machine guns, ejector seat, smoke screen, or oil-slick sprayer), it is still a work of art. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, Smokey and the Bandit- Director Hal Needham couldn't have predicted the impact that car would have on America. After audiences saw that Trans Am slide around corners, leap over broken bridges and evade Sheriff Buford T. Justice, they wanted to be behind the wheel of a black and gold T/A...