How To Keep Your Car Running Longer-Car Maintenance-The Basics

(This is the first in a series of articles on car maintenance and do-it yourself car repair to hopefully help keep a few more dollars in your pocket and keeping your car running longer-so far it has worked pretty well for me)

There are many things on a car requiring regular maintenance. Many of these things you can do yourself, without previous skill or specialized knowledge, or a large tool collection. I don’t know about where you live, but where I live mechanics are paid very well. As with any aspect of life, becoming educated is the key to making financially sound decisions regarding your car. The more you know about how a car engine operates, what are they key components and fluids that wear down, require maintenance, or need to be changed, etc., the better off you and your car will be. This first part of hopefully an on-going collection of posts goes over the basics of car maintenance, i.e., what you need to do. You need to know what needs to be replaced on a regular basis to keep your car in top shape.

For the basics, here are several things you can do to keep your car in good running condition.

1. Follow your car’s maintenance schedules.

This should be located in your car’s owner’s manual. If your car didn’t come with one (i.e., you bought the car used), Look on the internet, as some are available as pdf files from the manufacturer, such as Ford. Search the web, other car-manufacturer’s are available as well. The only problem with the owner’s manual is that it may or may not contain all of the things you should change on a regular basis . Haynes or Chilton’s manuals, invaluable resources for beginning do-it –yourselfers, are also available online and will have full maintenance schedules, as well as enough information to tackle just about any car repair you should choose. I would recommend buying them used online, they are frequently only a few dollars for older model cars .

The following items (not just oil!) should be part of your regular maintenance schedule:

Air filter, oil and oil filter, transmission fluid (and filter as required), fuel filter (if applicable to your model car), power steering fluid, coolant flush, inspect and replace belts and hoses, rotate tires, and brake fluid change/flush. Figure out when your car manufacturer recommends these be changes, and stick to the recommended schedule.
A great generic maintenance schedule can be found at Goss’ Garage website.

2. Educate yourself about your car’s make and model, using the internet.

Research your car’s make and model. You can find a plethora of information on the internet, and learn about recalls, common problems and fixes with your model car, and many other tips which can save you money.

3. If your car is out of warranty, find a good independent mechanic, preferably before you need it.

Doing a little research, before you are forced into finding a mechanic, can save you a bundle later on. I find that many dealerships (or “stealerships” as some like to call them), or franchise car repair places, try to force certain services on you, many of which are unnecessary. They are usually more expensive than an independent shop. If you find a mechanic shop which is too busy to take your car the day you call, I would recommend trying them out. They are probably busy for a reason.

4. Stop and start smoothly.

Accelerate smoothly from a stop, and conversely, brake smoothly as well. Punching the accelerator too hard wastes gas and puts stress on the engine. Braking too hard can cause the life of your brake pads to decrease significantly, frequently by a factor of 2 x or more.

5. Keep the interior and exterior of your car clean and protected.

Vacuum the interior and clean the cloth or leather seats and the carpets on a regular basis. Doing this regularly will keep the dirt and grime from getting “ground in”. Wash your car regularly, and clay and wax your car ( Meguiars and Mothers are two of the better line of car products), 2 to 3 times a year to keep your paint protected.