Taking care of your car can be more than confusing. Most of us trust mechanics to keep our cars in tiptop shape, but it wouldn't be nice to know what they are saying? There is a way to get familiar with car lingo and that involves getting to know the basics of car maintenance. Below are some car care tips that every vehicle owner should be aware of.
- Rotate those tires. Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles you want to rotate your tires so there isn't uneven wear and tear. You can find an approximate mileage number suited for your car by checking in the owner's manual.
Tire pressure. You want to check your tire pressure regularly. In fact, you should check it as much as once per week. It's a simple task and doing so will help you stay on top of your car's fuel economy, handling and even comfort.Tire depth. You want to make sure your tires aren't bald, as this is sure to cause a major accident in the future. Try using the Lincoln trick by simply inserting a penny into your tire and if the majority of his face is covered by your tires, you're good. If you can see most of Lincoln's face, it's probably time for some new tires.Check those belts. Yes, all the belts in your car are important. Therefore, you should have them all checked out every 25,000 miles. Experts recommend replacing your timing belt and accessory drive belt every 50,000 miles, so be aware of that.Check your oil level. This might seem complicated, but in fact, it's really not all that difficult. To check your oil you'll want to wait until your car has cooled down and then you'll pop the hood and pull out the dipstick. Simply wipe the dipstick clean and push it all the way back into the dip tube again. Wait a minute and then pull it out again. Check the level of the oil on the stick, and use the high mark of "H" and the low mark of "L" for your guideline.Confirm coolant level. This is another thing that is easy to do yourself, but again, wait until the car has completely cooled off. You can locate your coolant reservoir under the hood by looking for a transparent and/or white bottle. It's usually easy to spot, but if not, simply look in your owner's manual. The outside of the bottle will have high and low markings, and your coolant level should be somewhere in between. This prevents your car from overheating, so you should check this regularly. Remember, don't take the radiator cap off to check coolant levels, because if it's still hot and under pressure, you will get burned.These are just the basic car tips that will help keep your car running longer. You want to make sure you take care of your car and check it regularly for any maintenance issues. There are a few things you should be able to do yourself, but you may need to seek the help of a mechanic at times. Just make sure it's someone you trust and be sure to ask.
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