A few decades ago, having a car was considered a luxury. It was also quite normal for the family to have only one car. Over time, cities have developed, and so has the need for this means of transport, which has long been a luxury. Today, it is quite normal for every adult family member to have their own vehicle. Car maintenance is very important to prolong its life, but also to travel safely. Read on to find out what you can do to keep your four-wheeler on the road.
1. Tires and shock absorbers
Proper maintenance of tires or tires prolongs their service life and makes driving safe in all weather conditions. You will check the tires visually, whether there is any damage or unusual bulges, as well as whether all the valves have their own caps. When it comes to shock absorbers, you will check them by rocking the car from the side. The shock absorbers are correct if the car just calms down after 2-3 swings.
2. Regular service
Regular service is very important and involves changing the oil and filter. Changing the air filter is recommended every 10,000-15,000 kilometers while changing the oil in the engine is recommended every less than 5,000 kilometers. Check the car’s documentation for the type of oil recommended by the manufacturer, and check the oil level at least once a month. It is important that the oil filter must be changed every time the oil is changed, as this contributes significantly to engine health.
If you are not sure whether you are doing this correctly or often enough, be sure to consult a car mechanic. If despite regular oil and filter changes, you notice a strange engine noise or a light on the instrument panel, we advise you to take your vehicle for self-diagnostics, as this is the most reliable way to troubleshoot. You can find more about it at originaldiag.com.
3. Keeping the vehicle clean
The cleanliness of the vehicle is important not only for aesthetics but also because you will save your vehicle in this way, especially in the winter when anti-slip salt is sown on the roads. What many don’t know is that this is the culprit for the damage to the paint because it is so strong that it corrodes it. Wash your car regularly, keep it in the garage if you have one, repair even the slightest damage you notice on the bodywork.
4. Avoid driving on reserve
When the yellow light on the instrument panel symbol turns on the fuel pump symbol, it is clear to everyone that they have to stop at the petrol station and pour some diesel or petrol into the tank. However, many do not do this, bearing in mind that they can go at least another 50 km before the car stops.
Driving in reserve is undesirable for several reasons, and some of the main ones are the deposition of waste particles that will stop in the filter and sooner or later will cause clogging. In this way, individual engine components are damaged and their service life is reduced. It is considered to be most correct to refuel when the level in the tank falls below 50%.
5. Spark plug replacement
The spark plugs are changed regularly while the car is being serviced by an authorized service center and under warranty, and when all this is over, the spark plugs are changed only when the engine check indicator appears or the engine loses power and stops. A damaged or inefficient spark plug slowly destroys the engine and exhaust system, and it is recommended that they be replaced after 40,000-100,000 km.
6. Check the lights
Does it ever occur to you to check all the lights as a precaution? Approach the wall where you can see the reflection of the light, apply the brake, and thus check the brake lights.
Turn the rear trap of the vehicle towards the wall, apply the parking brake and check the auxiliary lights. If any of the bulbs have burned out, this problem is certainly not complicated or expensive to solve.
7. Check oil level
This is one of the basic regular checks. There are two reasons that affect the reduction of the oil level in your engine, and these are its standard combustion and leakage. The instrument panel light will tell you when it is time to change the oil. This will extend the life of the engine.
8. Watch out for signal lights
The signal lamps are on the instrument panel for a reason and their task is to warn you of a potential malfunction or something similar. Since the red light indicates a serious problem and the yellow warning, many take the yellow light lightly and continue driving smoothly for days after it comes on. Notice the first signs of potential problems so you can react in time.
9. Battery
Cleaning the battery is recommended as this prevents energy loss. The “current” in the battery is created and stored because part of the voltage that drives the consumer goes back to the battery terminals, so converting electricity into chemicals leads to storage/accumulation.
Dust and other impurities can also be carriers of electricity, especially when wet. They can create an almost invisible electrical conductor that can slowly dissipate electricity, so the battery will discharge faster. There is probably no worse surprise than when you try to start a car, but you don’t succeed.
Final thoughts
As we can see, auto maintenance is very easy. All you need to do is put in a little effort and take care of your vehicle in the best possible way. Keep in mind that extending the life of your car is not the only thing you get, it is much more, and that is safety while driving. Do you need the same more than that?
