Basic Car Maintenance Tips Every Driver Should Know

If they are not replaced regularly, your vehicle may experience reduced performance or even engine damage. Fortunately, a new air filter is cheap and you don’t have to be mechanical to install it. The best thing you can do for your car will cost you nothing except an investment in time. Read the manual as it should when you first bought the car and learn as much as you can about it and the systems.

While the filter is out, suck the crude oil into the air filter box. Spark plugs can affect the efficiency of your car’s engine. They are responsible for turning on the gas-air mixture that ultimately powers your vehicle.

Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine your schedule and find the location of your engine’s air filter. For most vehicles, the air filter box is not difficult to access and may not even require tools to open. Needless to say, it’s important to maintain your vehicle’s tire pressure. Incorrect tyre pressure can negatively affect your vehicle’s fuel consumption and cause the tyre to wear out faster. Both of these things will cost you more money than necessary.

Many manufacturers recommend replacing plugs every 30,000 to 40,000 miles to ensure good fuel mileage and engine performance. Some new cars come with durable plugs that can last 100,000 miles. If your car isn’t as equipped, make the change after 30,000 miles. While you’re at it, you’re also changing the spark plug cables. Degraded cables can dirty those new high-tech spark plugs. If your weatherstripping allows rainwater to seep into the inside of your car, check it out and decide if you can fix it or if it needs to be replaced.

Remember to protect sensitive engine parts, including the air intake, distributor and electrical parts, with plastic bags before you start. Use dish soap or other greases and a brush to scrub motor surfaces and components. Heavy-duty engine cleaning products are available at auto parts stores. You can also have your engine steam professionally cleaned. Check the hoses under your hood every month or two to avoid the hassle of a broken hose on the go. With the car warm but out, examine the hoses for bumps and collapsed parts.

All tires lose air, so checking your tires monthly is an essential part of the basic maintenance of the car. Always use the same tire pressure gauge and check the air pressure first thing in the morning, not after you’ve driven it or been in the hot sun. Inflate Mobile Mechanic Reading to the pressure indicated on the manufacturer’s sticker (on the driver’s door or jamb), NOT to the maximum pressure indicated on the tyre. The recommended tire pressure is based on the weight of your specific vehicle, not on the brand of tires or tread style.


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