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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pain of Searching for New Car

The Pain of Searching for New Car Car shopping can really be a pain in the rear. It is something that you are looking forward to at first as it is an exciting venture. But as you go from car dealership to car dealership, the whole enterprise becomes old very quickly. It becomes overwhelming traveling from one brand to another and trying to compare and see what you like or don’t like. Before you know it you have reached the point of exhaustion, and you are simply tired of looking at new cars. You feel like there has to be a better way to shop for a new vehicle. There has to be a place that has a wide variety of automobiles ranging from trucks, cars, SUVs and everything in between that has several different car companies. On top of all that a variety of year models so you can find the right car to fit your budget. The good news is that there is a better option. There is indeed a car dealership that is a one-stop shop. This dealership has a variety of vehicles from different manufact...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Helpful App

                                                              apple.com  A Helpful App We all want to be safe on the road, as well as others. But some of us can't help being on our phone or becoming distracted with other things while driving. Thankfully there are a few hand-free options out there, and Apple's CarPlay is one of them. Standard infotainments don't offer what CarPlay does. With CarPlay, you are applying iPhone software expertise to your driving experience, with Siri voice commands. Sending messages, playing music, asking for directions, streaming radio, or calling people hasn't been easier. All without touching your phone. It relies on Siri voice commands so you can keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Keep in mind, CarPlay is an app, it doesn't replace your standard entertainment system. Your c...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Much Do You Drive on a Daily Basis?

How Much Do You Drive on a Daily Basis? We live in a society where people typically drive their vehicles for a short period and do not actually pay them off before jumping into a new one. There can be many reasons for this. This means that the total amount that they owed on the previous vehicle is tacked onto the new one so. Therefore, many people are indebted to their vehicles more than they are with their actual home loans. For these types of people, leasing a vehicle sounds like a good option because you get a new one every two years. The only issue with this is that you are only allowed a certain number of miles per year. So, for those of us who travel long distances every day back and forth to work, school or traveling, leasing is not the best option. We exceed the number of allotted miles in only a few months. The Alternative to Leasing A Vehicle So, what does someone do that travels great distances every day to be able to lease or to fit within the qualifications of a l...
Post a Comment
Read more