Whether you’re looking to trade in, sell, or refinance your vehicle down the road, a little maintenance can go a long way toward protecting its value. Follow these five simple auto tips from the pros for your car to stay in good shape.
Don’t Neglect Your Brakes
The brakes of your vehicle are crucial for keeping you safe on the road. Without them, you would have a much harder time stopping your car when needed. As such, it is important to always keep them in good condition.
Regular inspections of your vehicle’s braking system can help you spot issues early, such as thinning pads. This prevents them from wearing out prematurely and saves you money on costly repairs.
How quickly your brake pads wear down depends on how frequently you drive and your driving style. Heavy braking requires more frequent replacement of pads than light driving or shorter trips. In addition, the weight of your vehicle can impact how fast and how heavily it brakes.
Neglecting to take care of your brakes can have expensive and potentially dangerous consequences. The best way to avoid these problems is to stay up-to-date with the recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle. A professional can help you determine the exact interval at which your brakes should be inspected and replaced. Additionally, they can recommend high-quality brake components that will last longer and provide optimal performance.
Don’t Neglect Your Tires
Tires are the only part of your car that makes direct contact with the road, and they play a critical role in traction, safety, and overall performance. However, many drivers tend to neglect their tires until something goes wrong, which could cost them in the long run.
Your tires support a quarter of your vehicle’s weight, so they need to be in good condition to ensure safe driving. In addition, tires that are bald or worn out can impact your gas mileage and handling, and they’re also more likely to get damaged by road debris.
Proper tire maintenance will extend their lifespan, save you money, and keep you safer on the road. Regular inspections, proper inflation pressure, tire rotation, and alignment are all crucial to keeping your tires in top shape. In addition, always check your tires monthly for signs of damage or uneven wear. It only takes a few minutes, and it could save you a lot of trouble (and money) in the long run.
Keep Your Car Clean
While most people take pride in keeping their home clean, many overlook the importance of regularly cleaning their car. Besides the obvious aesthetic benefits of having a clean vehicle, it can also improve your health by reducing bacteria and other harmful organisms. These organisms can lurk on surfaces like the steering wheel, change holder, and dashboard that you frequently touch.
Another benefit of regular car cleaning is preserving your resale value. While there are several factors that influence resale value, including brand, age, and service history, having a clean car is crucial.
In addition to affecting your resale value, dirt and grime can also cause premature wear of various car parts. Over time, this can lead to expensive repairs. Regularly washing your car will help prevent rust and corrosion, and it will also improve visibility, which can significantly reduce the risk of accidents caused by poor lighting or obstructions on the road. This is why it is important to make cleaning your car a regular part of your maintenance routine.
Get Your Oil Changed Regularly
The lifeblood of your vehicle’s engine, oil ensures that all its moving parts are properly lubricated. However, over time, it breaks down and collects contaminants that can clog vital engine parts. Regularly changing your oil helps to purge these contaminants and prevents them from causing damage to the engine. It also allows the engine to operate more efficiently and improves its lifespan.
Getting your oil changed regularly can also help to improve your fuel economy. Dirty oil creates more friction between the moving parts of the engine, which causes it to work harder and use up more gas. Clean oil, on the other hand, reduces the amount of friction, which helps your engine to run more smoothly and efficiently.
Whether your vehicle uses conventional or synthetic oil, it is important to check your owner’s manual for specific guidance on when you should get an Affordable Oil Change. Typically, the recommended oil changes are around 3,000 miles or 3,000 months, but this can vary depending on your driving conditions and habits.
Don’t Neglect Your Windshield
Your windshield is one of the most vital components of your car, providing protection and visibility on the road. It can even help you drive safely on a snowy road or gravel driveway. However, the windshield is vulnerable to numerous hazards that may lead to cracks and divots. When these problems are left untreated, they can significantly impact your driving ability. To avoid this, it is important to inspect your windshield regularly and get any minor problems fixed promptly.
You can keep your windshield in tip-top shape by following a few simple tips, such as:
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Leaving your car in direct sunlight causes it to heat up rapidly, increasing the risk of thermal stress. To prevent this, park in shaded areas whenever possible.
Replace Your Wiper Blades: Worn-out wiper blades leave streaks and damage the glass. Moreover, they are less effective when it comes to clearing snow or ice.
Don’t Slam Your Doors: Slamming your door creates intense vibrations that can expand tiny cracks on the windshield and other parts of the car.