| April 24th, 2009 by admin |
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Being Savvy With Car Maintenance
Being Savvy With Car Maintenance
Some auto maintenance tasks are critical to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly and lasts a long time. For example, getting oil changes every 5,000 miles, keeping the right amount of pressure in your tires, and changing your air filter occasionally are important. That said, there are plenty of maintenance items that are a waste of your time and money.
The problem is that dealership service centers and local repair garages often give advice that is suspect. Much of what they say is to increase their sales rather than making sure your vehicle operates properly.
Because ongoing car maintenance is so important to the life of your vehicle, I’ll describe the tasks you should be doing as well as those which you can do without.
Mind Your Tires
Despite the myriad of parts under the hood, your tires on the only parts that actually contact the ground (hopefully). Check the pressure every few weeks. Tires leak over time; they need to be filled. If they’re underinflated, the treads will wear down and you’ll end up replacing them far sooner than normal. Also, rotate them occasionally. The tires in the front tend to wear down more quickly than those in the back. Rotating them keeps the tread wear even.
Tune-Ups: Are They Necessary
If you’re driving a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, you probably don’t need a tune-up. The point of a tune-up is to adjust and recalibrate mechanical parts. These days, most of the parts (i.e. oxygen sensor, ignition switch, fuel injection system, etc.) are controlled by a computer. As a result, there is very little to “tune up.”
Regular Oil Changes
Years ago, when engines were less sophisticated and motor oil was less advanced, a trip to the oil change shop every 3,000 miles was a good idea. However, that’s no longer the case. Today’s cars only need to have the oil changed every 5,000 miles.
Maintain Your Brakes
Every time you press down on your brake pedal, your brakes experience a little wear and tear. If you neglect them long enough, you’ll eventually hear a painful grinding sound as exposed metal rubs against other metal. Visit a repair shop as soon as you notice any problems. If you catch it early enough, you may only need to have the pads replaced. By the time you hear grinding, the rotor may be damaged and need to be replaced.
Change Your Air Filter
Your air filter has an important job: it needs to catch dirt and debris before it enters your car’s engine. It does its job diligently every time you’re on the road. The problem is that it gets clogged with debris over time. When that happens, air flow becomes restricted which can affect your engine’s performance.
Check the air filter each time you change the oil. The dirtier the streets on which you drive, the more quickly debris will accumulate. They’re inexpensive, so they can be replaced without breaking the bank.
Your car may drive like a dream, but parts fail – or become less effective – due to wear and tear. Invest time on the auto maintenance tasks above to make sure your vehicle lasts as long as possible.
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