Car Maintenance – What to and Not to Do

“A stitch in time saves nine.” Of course it does, we all know that. But have you ever taken a deeper look into this adage that much use has almost rendered a cliché? If you have never and you have a car, you are in trouble and I am here for you…

Car maintenance basically is ensuring your car works at optimum, and to achieve this you need to know a few tips. When you buy a new car, you can go for quite some time before visiting a mechanic. However, there gets some time when that routine check-up is more than just a requirement; it becomes part of you, like sleeping for example. Firstly, give the tires the once over. We all know, tires are the only contacts between your car and the road and therefore they should never be taken lightly. Don’t just look at them, get your hands dirty. Rub the edges for any lumps or bumps, checking there is at least 1.6mm of tread across the rim of the tire. Spray water up rocker panels to remove any debris that may cause rust while putting in mind that correct tire pressure ensures not only safety but also proper fuel consumption as cars with little tire pressure will consume more. Changing of the tires becomes necessary after 2-3 years, depending on road condition.

Ensure seats belts fasten properly and the seats are securely fitted so that they won’t shift about in an accident – your life depends on it! Mirrors, wipers and washes should all get a quick check too. Obviously one of the biggest car maintenance tips involves changing the engine oil. This should be done every 3000 miles or so (5000 km). Changing the oil ensures all its components work together smoothly. You will need to change the oil filter every second oil change as well.

To ensure your car is at par with its maintenance program, a notebook may be necessary to keep track of all its maintenance operations. This can be safely kept in the glove compartment to use wherever need arises. Wash and dry the car regularly to remove sediments and while doing so avoid the use of soapless detergents as they rip the color off its gloss. Vacuum clean on the inside and an occasional perfume wouldn’t do any harm in impressing her or disclosing your other definition to the people you drive.

It is unfortunate that many drivers continue to ignore some essential repairs that they consider minor, unaware of their significance. Checking all lights and inspection of the fuel cap are some elements under this category. Research has revealed that one in ten wouldn’t pay to repair a minor exhaust system problem and more than one in seven wouldn’t consider fixing their steering wheel as a priority. A physician will tell you all body parts are equally important, so be a physician of your car and treat it well.

Taking care of your car will determine if it will last you a long time or if you are going to be putting a lot of money into in the near future. Well, you don’t have to worry because following these tips, your experience with your car is going to be redefined! Remember that a little goes a long way and now that you know, you are not stopping short soon.

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Three Essential Tools You Need To Do An Oil Change On Your Vehicle

Performing any oil change doesn’t need to end up being challenging. If you go in to the project prepared consequently all of it should proceed easily. Available are a variety of tools which often are able to help you perform the project much more easily. A couple of things you may very well wish to consider can be an oil drain pan, an oil filter wrench, as well as a standard socket set.

The oil drain pan is an excellent tool for virtually every home mechanic. More sophisticated oil drain pans have a compartment that your oil drains into. This makes it very easy to put any old oil into your new oil’s container and then recycle it properly. This is really important since it is illegal in most locations to improperly dispose of your oil. There are a number of several oil drain pans one can look into. Drain pans tend to be quite affordable and they will be utilized a great amount of occasions. Any nearby auto parts retail outlet and a lot of large department stores have these drain pans. Most auto part suppliers also recycle oil, so its possible to take ones old oil back to them whenever you’re done with your own oil change.

An oil filter wrench is yet another effective tool to anybody hoping to change their own oil. Oil filter wrenches are required for changing your oil should you or maybe the last place that changed your oil screwed the filter on very tight. Oil filter wrenches are super easy to use and are available for exact sizes designed for individual automobiles, or adjustable so that you can utilize them on just about any vehicle that you’d like to change the oil on. Which ever one you end up picking, it’ll make taking your oil filter out faster and easier.

A conventional socket set will certainly assist you when you are removing your drain plug. Your oil drain plug is going to be beneath the engine coming out of your car’s oil pan. A number of oil drain plugs can be found in the oil pan at an angle, so it is required to raise the automobile and also make sure you’re directly underneath it while putting on and also taking off the drain plug. This will likely prevent all troubles in terms of cross threading your drain plug. If you raise your car ensure that you have your parking brake firmly applied and that you obstruct your tires so your car or truck can not roll or move when someone is under it.

Owning the proper equipment for the job is essential to succeed for a home mechanic. When you need to change the oil an oil filter wrench is an important piece of equipment to have around. There are numerous locations to purchase an oil filter wrench, which includes many trusted online retailers, one of which is Amazon. Additionally keeping an oil drain pan along with a standard socket set in the tool box are great ideas as well. And so, if you would like save a great length of time as well as the costs of going in for regular, pricey oil changes, make sure you purchase an oil filter wrench to ensure that you possess the correct tool to do the job.

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3 Tips to Buying Your Teen’s First Car

Everyone remembers their first car. Loving the freedom of the open road, getting your driver’s license, feeling in control, being behind the wheel by yourself for the first time. It’s an exciting feeling for the teen in your life, but how much should you spend on a car for your inexperienced driver? Here are some reasons to think twice before going out and buying your 16-year-old a new car:

1. New cars depreciate quickly. Buying a used car could be a better option. According to Dave Ramsey, most vehicles lose about 60% of their value in the first four years. Buying a used car is easier on your budget and will help save for more important things (i.e. college) for the future. Also, the type of car you purchase will have a direct impact on the cost of insurance. That cool red Trans-Am may not net the best rates from the insurance company. Consider that blue Civic. May not be the hippest car around, but will save a bundle in insurance and serves the purpose of getting from point A to point B.

2. Teach responsibility and work ethic by having the teen pay for or help pay for the car, the insurance, or the gas. Or a combination of all three. Because the cost of insuring teens is so high, it is a big motivator for your teens to understand the costs along with ways to help reduce the cost. Maintaining a high GPA is an example of a way to reduce their insurance costs. When your teen has personally invested in their own vehicle, they will be more likely to take better care of it. This also teaches teens about the importance of budgeting for high-ticket items like an automobile.

3. Teens are at a much higher rate for car crashes. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15-19 were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population, but they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Even minor accidents can cause insurance rates to skyrocket, so make sure your teen practices safe driving.

Whichever car you purchase, make sure it’s a safe one. A properly inspected used car can still be very safe, just make sure that the airbags and seatbelts still work. Have a used car inspected by a reputable dealer or mechanic to make sure it is in proper working order.

Once you’ve found “the” car, look for discounts on car insurance and teach your teen ways to save fuel costs. And above all, remind your teens to keep their eyes on the road and safe travels!

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