We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Thank you to Cars.com for sponsoring this post!
Our car has seen a lot of wear and tear over the past few years. We moved across the country (California -> New York). Joe drives this car to work every day in the rain, snow, or otherwise. Also, for two years, he drove from Manhattan to job sites across the city or New Jersey every week. This car has seen a lot of use!
When he bought this car, it is obviously a huge investment. We do everything we can to maintain it well so it will last for years to come. Here are a few tips for maintaining a car:
MONTHLY
• Check your engine oil [this the blood of your car & should be changed every 3000 miles]
• Check tire air pressure [can easily been done at home–Cars.com offers a step by step guide & video on how to do this]
• Wash your car [show your car some love]
SIX MONTHS [OR 7500 MILES]
• Check the air filter [remove air-filter element & hold up to light; if you don’t see light, it’s time to replace it]
• Inspect exhaust system [check for rusted exhaust parts that need replacing & tighten loose clamps]
• Check brakes [either in the shop or at home]
• Check the fluids
• Clean the radiator [this prevents overheating]
• Check the battery
• Check lights [ask a friend to help you check the headlights, taillights, reverse lights, brake lights, and turn signals]
TWO – FOUR YEARS
• Drain & flush cooling system [may be best to find a shop for this one]
• Change automatic-transmission fluid
• Replace drive belts & hoses [although they may not show signs, if they become noisy–it’s time to replace them]
• Change the timing belt
AS NEEDED
• Replace broken lights, windows, mirrors [always do this ASAP–safety first!]
• Clean the interior [especially important if you want to sell your car eventually]
• Replace windshield wipers
Anything I missed? Leave it down in the comments!
LOOKING FOR MORE CAR TIPS?
Thanks a lot for info!
Thanks for sharing! It’s really good that we have a lot of different apps and ways to know every little detail about the car. When you’re going to buy a car it’s a difficult choice and of course it’s natural if you’re a bit stressed about it. I’d like to add one more useful service https://www.faxvin.com/blog/carfax-alternatives to your list, because here you can get the detailed information about your potential vehicle like, mileage, operational history, accidents history, theft records, recalls and defects etc.