How to Be Better at Keeping Up With Your Car Maintenance

Your car is a serious financial investment. The longer you can keep it on the road, the better the return on that investment. Routine maintenance is critical for keeping a vehicle running at its best. However, with a busy schedule, it can be difficult to remember to take care of this important task. There are a number of ways that you can improve how well you care for your car.

Learn to Do Things Yourself

While a skilled mechanic is necessary for many repairs, there are a great number of things that you can do on your own. Routine chores like adding wiper fluid, checking tire pressure or checking your oil do not require a professional. On many models, you can change lightbulbs and wiper blades without much work. Most owner’s manuals have a listing of the maintenance tasks that were designed to be done by a nonprofessional. You can conveniently handle any of these jobs at a lower cost.

Always Do Routine Checks

Once you get beyond simple maintenance jobs, it is important to have a professional mechanic look at your vehicle. When an expert looks at your car, he or she can find small problems before they become larger issues. A worn timing belt is easily replaced, but a broken timing belt can lead to expensive engine damage. A maintenance appointment will also give you the opportunity to follow up on any strange sounds you are hearing when you drive. For most cars, the recommendation is a regular service appointment at every 5,000 miles. According to Oilabel, stickers on your windshield are great reminders of your next service appointment to help you stay up-to-date on your car maintenance.

Keep a Maintenance Log

If you’ve owned your car for several years, it can be difficult to remember all the maintenance that has been done to it. Your mechanic may keep a digital record of what he or she has done, but it only holds information about the maintenance performed at that particular garage. If you have moved a couple of times during the vehicle’s lifetime, the record will be incomplete. Many people find it helpful to keep a written maintenance log in the glove box of the vehicle. Every time something is done to the car, you can note the date and the service. This way, according to Ride Time, you always have a complete car care record on hand.

For most people, owning a car is necessary for their day-to-day lives. You depend on your vehicle as transportation to work, shopping, and recreational activities. By taking care of your vehicle’s regular car maintenance, you can look forward to many miles of smooth driving.

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