While more and more emphasis is made on buying cars, there is only little attention given on the maintenance requirements of the car. The modern automobile has as close to seventy five thousand parts holding everything together, the malfunction of one of these can cause your vehicle to behave strangely. A well maintained car will not only help keep you safe and drive the vehicle for a long period of time but you will also be able to sell it at a good price some day. Read below for some steps that you can take to maintain your car.
Order of Maintenance
There is a simple acronym that can be used to help remember the order of maintenance of your vehicle. TOWBIF stands for tires, oil, windows, brakes, interiors and fluids. Each car will come with its own user manual and is used to establish the schedule for the maintenance of the car. Since each car will have their own brand of parts, bilstein shock absorbers and servicing times, it is important for you to read through the manual thoroughly.
TiresThe tires of the vehicle are one of the most important parts and these needs to be properly inflated to match the manufacturer’s specified pressure requirement. Tires are typically replaced when the tread wear indicators are visible between the treads. In order to identify tread wear, you can ask your local tire dealer for assistance. Most cars come with tire tool kits and polyair load assist kits to name a few.
OilThe oil in the car is one of the most important elements and without it your car is very unlikely to go very far. It is best to check the oil regularly at least once a week and have it changed as per the guidance of the car owner’s manual. Every car will have different oil changing periods.
WindowsMake sure that all the windows are in good condition, clean and not broken when the vehicle is functioning. This includes mirrors and lights apart from the windshield.
BrakesAlthough, the braking system is complex, in modern cars most are designed to be replaced periodically as this increases the efficiency of the braking system. Make sure to have your braking system checked immediately if you notice the slightest changes in the brakes.
Interior and Fluids
The interior of the car is one of the highlighting factors at the point of sale as it adds to the aesthetics of the car instantly. Make sure to clean and vacuum regularly. The fluids such as coolants, brake fluid and power steering fluid must be checked at least once a week.