An Ultimate Guide to Vehicle Care

It’s no secret - fully maintaining your vehicle can take a lot of time and effort. Some vehicle owners will barely consider maintenance until their car is in desperate need of repair. As you likely know, this can be detrimental to the longevity of your machine. Thorough vehicle care is not only fiscally responsible, but it keeps your car performing at its optimal potential. Below are some helpful tips and tricks to help you out along the way!

1. CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE

It is suggested that the most trustworthy method of inspecting tire pressure is to use an air pressure gauge a minimum of once a week. This gauge tells you the pounds per square inch (PSI) of air pressure in your tires. While the ideal PSI of your tires vary on tire size and your vehicle make, you can find the recommended pressure listed on a sticker inside your driver’s door. Usually, front and rear tires have different suggested PSI amounts. A common recommended amount for cars is between 32-35 PSI, but be sure to check.

2. MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL!

Each new vehicle features a convenient booklet containing car care tips, including recommended oil types, filters, and other parts for your vehicle maintenance. The user's manual is the most reliable source of information, especially when fluids and filtration systems need changing.

An owner’s manual also offers instructions on operating the car's infotainment system, diagnosing issues that appear on your dashboard, and using the right oil and fuel. This is essential, as using the wrong kind of oil can lead to a shorter life expectancy for your engine. The manual also provides specialist advice on maintaining your car, including a detailed description of the engine, drive, brakes, suspension, air conditioning, steering power, and other features.

3. ROTATE YOUR TIRES

The rules on how frequently you should rotate your tires vary from about 3,000 miles to 5,000 miles. However, while that may be suggested, you should understand the signs of needing to rotate a tire, including: rebound, tire pressure , and tire revolutions.

Tires require rotation when the tread gap goes beyond 2.32 inches. If you normally need to rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or every six months, if you have turned tires before and you simply wanted to know how they spin to reduce wear.

On most automobiles, the basic tire rebound is 5,000 to 7,500 miles each year or every six months under normal driving conditions (see your car's service suggestions). Depending on if you off-road or drive in bad conditions, you should consider rotating more frequently.

4. SERVICE IT REGULARLY

Audi recommends servicing your car every 10,000 miles. If your car is fairly new and doesn’t have many miles under its belt, many car manufacturers advise an oil modification service every three months or more.

Regular usage of your vehicle validates a service every 7,500 miles, while heavy driving might need service every 3,000 miles. If your vehicle has artificial oil, you need to change the oil every 5,000 - 7,500 miles (most makers suggest non-synthetic oils).

5. DON'T LET YOUR WIPERS GET OLD

The last thing you want to do in a storm is have to change your wiper blade because an old one snapped in half. Keep up with changing your wipers so that your blade doesn’t become old and fail to do its job effectively when you switch on the wipers.

Also be sure to clear irregular object from your windshield before using your wipers. If a large portion of ice or sticks are on your windshield, take those off by hand rather than making the wiper do the work. With time, overexerting itself can loosen up the pressure on the sensing unit, resulting in a less effective windshield wiper.

Manufacturers make wiper blades out of soft rubber, which wears out with time. If you leave wiper blades on your car for longer than suggested, the wipers may clash, harm their engines, or trigger damage to the blade itself. The rubber may also loosen and not wipe away rain like it should, leading to “smearing”, which can impede visibility on the road.

6. REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER!

Typically, air filters should be changed out in your car about every 12,000-15,000 miles. While this is a good general rule of thumb, you can discover the exact schedule for changing the engine filter in the car manual.

After changing your fuel pump, change the air filter on the fuel tank's front-passenger side and on the front passenger seat. If you don’t drive your car 12,000-15,000 miles in a year, be sure to at least change it out annually. The schedule for changing the engine air filters differs depending upon the design and day-to-day driving conditions. When air filters become contaminated to a degree where they obstruct the airflow, they need regular upkeep.

Power air filters offer additional engine power and much better fuel intake by lowering the quantity of waste entering the engine by increasing the airflow (TRD Performance). These air filters protect your car while keeping it clean and removing damaging air pollutants. Likewise, the air filter helps keep your A/C and evaporator clean, which can prevent unpleasant odors in your vehicle. When air travels through the air filter, the filter traps dust and debris and offers your travelers clean and rejuvenating air.

7. KEEP UP WITH YOUR LIGHTS

The importance of keeping your headlights in working shape is essential to your safety. One study showed 34% of drivers have not changed their headlights, although 83% of drivers agree that increased visibility on the road leads to greater vehicle safety.

Most states require headlights being on between sunset and sunrise, but there are also laws for using lights during storms or other times when the road ahead has low visibility. Check your local state’s laws and be sure to change your vehicle headlights at least once a year to ensure they are in good working condition when you need them. Blinker and brake lights should also be checked on a regular basis.

8. BRAKE PADS

Even a perfectly working brake pad can squeak on a damp day, but you can eliminate the squeaking by reinforcing the brake discs. If your brakes are still screeching, you may need to swap brake pads. Postponing the replacement of brake pads or using inferior brake pads can likewise increase the wear on brakes and rotors.

As a basic guideline, examine your brake pads every 6 months or so to figure out if you use it enough to necessitate replacement. Generally, brakes should be changed every 50,000 miles - though as always, that does sometimes vary. Likewise, there is a sign in the miles that can inform you whether the brake pads are due for an assessment or replacement. Typically, once the brakes have less than one quarter of an inch depth, you need to change them. When changing your oil or rotating your tires, ask your vehicle maintenance specialist if you should check the brake pads on your car.

We suggest a multi-point examination to inspect all your cooling systems, including your brake pads and rotors, along with your cooling, A/C and exhaust system.

How hard a motorist presses the brake significantly affects how long a brake pad lasts as well. Gently applying your foot to the brake generally means there is a less buildup of heat and less wear on your brake pads.

A brake fluid leak occurs because of an incorrect setup. The very best method to prevent the brake fluid from adhering to the caliper is to drain pipes and change the brake fluid. You should know that your brake pads will become worn over time, so you should replace them as soon as possible.

To guarantee that your car and truck always have the fastest and most safe grip, we highly advise you to alter the brake pad, especially if it has any of the above abnormalities.

9. BE CAREFUL HOW YOU DRIVE

In 2012, 11 percent of accidents were caused by partially distracted drivers, with 14% of the accidents caused by distracted victims. In 2014, 10% of fatal, sidetracked drivers were between the ages of 15 and 19. Over half of all deadly accidents took place on roadways with significant speed limitations. The lack of attention drivers gave to these limitations played a significant role in most of the accidents.

Undeniably, responsible driving is one of the most important aspects to keeping your car unharmed and in good condition. By keeping your phone off while you drive, never drinking and driving, and following road safety practices, you will be much more likely to avoid accidents and keep you and your vehicle safe.