11 Common Car Maintenance Rules (That Keep Your Car Running Smoothly)
When you buy a new or used car, the goal is always to keep the vehicle in great condition for as long as possible. Whether you decide to re-sell it later or trade it in for another vehicle, you want the vehicle to retain value.
Although here at Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, our service department sees problems that could easily have been avoided if the vehicle had been properly serviced. Here's what to do to keep your vehicle humming along for years to come.
Inspect Your Vehicle Regularly
Your owner’s manual contains everything you need to know to keep your car healthy. Get acquainted with it and refer to it regularly.
Learn the Different Warning Lights
New cars today have sophisticated sensors and warning systems that let you know immediately when something is not working.
Do you know what each of these lights is signaling when they are activated?
• Check engine light
• Service engine light
• Electrical fault light
• Brake warning light
• ABS warning light
• Coolant warning light
• Oil warning light
These system lights are your partners in keeping your vehicle safe. Get to know them!
Tire Maintenance
This is another biggie. A simple check of your tire pressure will save you at the gas pump. Not to mention how well your vehicle handles and the comfort of your ride.
Some vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems already installed. If so, you can check this off your list! Some smart gadgets connect with mobile devices to alert you of a change in tire pressure. Otherwise, make it habit to check your tires on a regular basis.
One aspect an app can’t check is tire tread depth. The good news is tire manufacturers do integrate tread wear bars into the tire which gives you an unmistakable visual for when to get new ones.
Do get tires rotated on a regular basis. The rule of thumb for tire rotation is every 5,000 miles to keep your car’s fuel economy robust. Not to mention, to keep you safe on the road.
Wheel balancing, tire rotation and alignment are essential for good used car health!
Enjoying good fuel economy is another reason to keep an eye on tire pressure. Under inflated or over inflated tires wreaks havoc on gas mileage. Nobody wants that.
Check Your Drive Belts
Drive belts take power from the engine so that other mechanical parts of the vehicle will run smoothly.
When drive belts are worn, any of these systems can be affected:
• Alternator
• AC compressor
• Power steering pump
• Air and water pumps
Because drive belts are generally made from rubber, they take a lot of wear even with normal use. Over time, they will degrade. It’s important to check them to make sure none of the belts is faulty.
Check Oil Levels
Without the proper amount of engine oil, your vehicle can’t and won’t run properly. In fact, it’s detrimental to the vehicle.
The car’s engine has a lot of moving parts that create friction and heat. Hence, a good brand of car oil is critical for a properly functioning vehicle.
Do check the oil regularly. Just make sure you’re doing the check on level ground for an accurate read.
Coolant Levels
While your car’s oil reduces friction between its moving parts, you need a coolant to prevent the engine from overheating.
That’s where your radiator comes in. It must have radiator fluid in its reservoir to get rid of the heat generated by the motor. Keep your car happy with periodic checks.
Replace Engine Air Filter
If your vehicle experiences mediocre gas mileage, unusual sounds that come from the engine, or significantly reduced horsepower, check your engine’s air filter.
It runs efficiently on a mixture of air and fuel. If dirt, debris, or any other contaminant gets sucked in, it will compromise your engine’s operation.
If you do a lot of around town driving, stop and go driving, there’s a greater risk that your air filter will accumulate dust and dirt. That doesn’t mean you avoid driving in town, just check your air filter a little more often!
Replace Your Spark Plugs
Lack of acceleration, rough idling, and trouble starting your vehicle are all signs of malfunctioning spark plugs.
Usually, spark plug replacement occurs every 30,000 miles if it is a standard copper spark plug. If your vehicle has the more advanced iridium plug, these can last up to 100,000 miles.
The point is to listen to your vehicle. If you suspect spark plugs, they really aren’t difficult to replace.
Stick to the Octane Rating Recommended by the Manufacturer
Four words here: Read your owner’s manual. Too many car owners think a higher octane will yield better gas mileage.
It will if you’re a race car driver. Sports cars and race cars have engines that run on very high compression ratios. Without the higher octane gas, they “knock.” That’s why a higher octane gas is essential for them.
Since your car is made for public highways, simply stick with the octane rating recommended by the manufacturer.
Battery Maintenance
Just because your battery is maintenance free doesn’t mean you can skip basic maintenance. It takes less than a minute to check your battery terminal and clean the contacts as needed.
Check to make sure there’s no corrosion or mineral buildup. If you do find either of these, get a brush designed to clean battery terminals. Rubbing off the buildup will help prolong the life of your battery and lower the cost of car maintenance.
Check Your Signal Light Bulbs
Signal lights are crucial to safe driving. It’s how other drivers know what direction you’re planning to take. A blown light bulb should never be overlooked.
Most of these steps can be done in a few minutes; they are that simple and easy to do. If, however, you feel more comfortable having a professional look over your vehicle, set up an appointment with our service pros.
Our certified Chevy mechanics can work on all makes and models of vehicles. Take advantage of their expertise because regular car maintenance is the secret sauce for keeping your vehicle running smoothly for years to come!
Check out our website to learn more about us.
Although here at Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, our service department sees problems that could easily have been avoided if the vehicle had been properly serviced. Here's what to do to keep your vehicle humming along for years to come.
Inspect Your Vehicle Regularly
Your owner’s manual contains everything you need to know to keep your car healthy. Get acquainted with it and refer to it regularly.
Learn the Different Warning Lights
New cars today have sophisticated sensors and warning systems that let you know immediately when something is not working.
Do you know what each of these lights is signaling when they are activated?
• Check engine light
• Service engine light
• Electrical fault light
• Brake warning light
• ABS warning light
• Coolant warning light
• Oil warning light
These system lights are your partners in keeping your vehicle safe. Get to know them!
Tire Maintenance
This is another biggie. A simple check of your tire pressure will save you at the gas pump. Not to mention how well your vehicle handles and the comfort of your ride.
Some vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems already installed. If so, you can check this off your list! Some smart gadgets connect with mobile devices to alert you of a change in tire pressure. Otherwise, make it habit to check your tires on a regular basis.
One aspect an app can’t check is tire tread depth. The good news is tire manufacturers do integrate tread wear bars into the tire which gives you an unmistakable visual for when to get new ones.
Do get tires rotated on a regular basis. The rule of thumb for tire rotation is every 5,000 miles to keep your car’s fuel economy robust. Not to mention, to keep you safe on the road.
Wheel balancing, tire rotation and alignment are essential for good used car health!
Enjoying good fuel economy is another reason to keep an eye on tire pressure. Under inflated or over inflated tires wreaks havoc on gas mileage. Nobody wants that.
Check Your Drive Belts
Drive belts take power from the engine so that other mechanical parts of the vehicle will run smoothly.
When drive belts are worn, any of these systems can be affected:
• Alternator
• AC compressor
• Power steering pump
• Air and water pumps
Because drive belts are generally made from rubber, they take a lot of wear even with normal use. Over time, they will degrade. It’s important to check them to make sure none of the belts is faulty.
Check Oil Levels
Without the proper amount of engine oil, your vehicle can’t and won’t run properly. In fact, it’s detrimental to the vehicle.
The car’s engine has a lot of moving parts that create friction and heat. Hence, a good brand of car oil is critical for a properly functioning vehicle.
Do check the oil regularly. Just make sure you’re doing the check on level ground for an accurate read.
Coolant Levels
While your car’s oil reduces friction between its moving parts, you need a coolant to prevent the engine from overheating.
That’s where your radiator comes in. It must have radiator fluid in its reservoir to get rid of the heat generated by the motor. Keep your car happy with periodic checks.
Replace Engine Air Filter
If your vehicle experiences mediocre gas mileage, unusual sounds that come from the engine, or significantly reduced horsepower, check your engine’s air filter.
It runs efficiently on a mixture of air and fuel. If dirt, debris, or any other contaminant gets sucked in, it will compromise your engine’s operation.
If you do a lot of around town driving, stop and go driving, there’s a greater risk that your air filter will accumulate dust and dirt. That doesn’t mean you avoid driving in town, just check your air filter a little more often!
Replace Your Spark Plugs
Lack of acceleration, rough idling, and trouble starting your vehicle are all signs of malfunctioning spark plugs.
Usually, spark plug replacement occurs every 30,000 miles if it is a standard copper spark plug. If your vehicle has the more advanced iridium plug, these can last up to 100,000 miles.
The point is to listen to your vehicle. If you suspect spark plugs, they really aren’t difficult to replace.
Stick to the Octane Rating Recommended by the Manufacturer
Four words here: Read your owner’s manual. Too many car owners think a higher octane will yield better gas mileage.
It will if you’re a race car driver. Sports cars and race cars have engines that run on very high compression ratios. Without the higher octane gas, they “knock.” That’s why a higher octane gas is essential for them.
Since your car is made for public highways, simply stick with the octane rating recommended by the manufacturer.
Battery Maintenance
Just because your battery is maintenance free doesn’t mean you can skip basic maintenance. It takes less than a minute to check your battery terminal and clean the contacts as needed.
Check to make sure there’s no corrosion or mineral buildup. If you do find either of these, get a brush designed to clean battery terminals. Rubbing off the buildup will help prolong the life of your battery and lower the cost of car maintenance.
Check Your Signal Light Bulbs
Signal lights are crucial to safe driving. It’s how other drivers know what direction you’re planning to take. A blown light bulb should never be overlooked.
Most of these steps can be done in a few minutes; they are that simple and easy to do. If, however, you feel more comfortable having a professional look over your vehicle, set up an appointment with our service pros.
Our certified Chevy mechanics can work on all makes and models of vehicles. Take advantage of their expertise because regular car maintenance is the secret sauce for keeping your vehicle running smoothly for years to come!
Check out our website to learn more about us.
