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Owning a car doesn't end as soon as you get the keys and get the wheels rolling for a few trips on the road. Aside from paying your dues and making sure the records are up to date, you also have to at least perform the basics of maintaining your vehicle. You may also check out
lots of car reviews to help you determine if there are additional points you need to consider when you have to perform car maintenance soon.
Benefits of Maintaining Your Car
Prevents you from suffering from additional expenses in the future.
When you regularly maintain your car, you can set aside the approximate budget needed to have your vehicle in tiptop condition. Aside from that, it's easier for you to predict if you need certain car repair services or replacement of certain parts sometime in the future–factors that require additional budget shelled out beforehand.
Increases the possible price in case you’re planning to sell in the future.
A car in top condition can have a higher asking price, especially if it has never been repaired for the tiniest of reasons. In this case, the only thing that can set you apart from reasonable pricing is the total mileage so far. But if you think about it, a car that has never given you problems and doesn't seem to have issues in the near future has already given you that much-needed ROI. So what is there to really lose in the first place?
Significantly decreases the risks of having road accidents.
One of the common reasons that road accidents happen is due to faulty brakes. These are the brakes that haven't been closely inspected and maintained within the prescribed timeframe. Sure, maintenance and repairs can be expensive and time-consuming, but they don't compare to the peace of mind you get, knowing there's a small chance that your car will fail you.
Improves the overall performance of the vehicle for much longer than other cars.
Each car model and make will have a certain life expectancy with a lot of factors at play. Aim to get to that point or at least make the condition of the car promising enough so it will eventually reach that point. Aside from making the most out of your ROI, it helps make it easier for you to predict when you need to purchase another car. Therefore, you don't have to suffer from unexpected and large expenses down the road. In this regard, the key is to be consistent with the maintenance so you will detect possible problems early in their tracks and address these accordingly.
Decreases carbon footprint.
A well-maintained car tends to consume gas more efficiently. Aside from helping you get the most bang out of your buck, it helps the environment by making sure your car has decreased carbon emissions than those vehicles that haven't been maintained consistently and properly. In other words, you contribute less to the air pollution that's already affecting our planet and causing environmental problems, such as climate change.
Tips to Properly Maintain Your Vehicle
Nitpick the exterior.
Check for any scratches or dents that are present on the hull. Also check the interiors for signs of deterioration. Once you detect any unwanted change, have the problem addressed as soon as possible. For instance, a small rip in the driver's seat can continue to get bigger if you let this issue continue unaddressed for the next few days or weeks. Before you know it, the leather has been more than an arm's length once you bring it for a repair. Guess which requires more time and money to solve? We hope you get the drift.
You’ll never go wrong with regular checks.
Go for at least a semi-annual car inspection even if you don't see any problem at the moment. Unless you're a car mechanic or anyone in that level (or higher), don't preempt the judgment or the experts in the automotive industry and get your vehicle checked.
See if the drive belts are snug.
Your car engine will work more efficiently if all the parts are at their top conditions. More importantly, the engine has a lower chance of wasting fuel if all the parts are snug and properly lubricated. Considering this situation, make sure that aside from the drive belt, the rest of the parts are not loosely fitted. Any loose fittings among the car parts will require the engine to do extra. When this happens for extended periods of time, the engine will deteriorate more readily and may require more repairs or even a premature replacement in the future.
Read the manual.
This is as straightforward as it gets, but it’s usually overlooked because a lot of people assume they already know everything there is to know regarding cars and how each part works. People who have already owned at least one car are even more likely to suffer this pitfall. For what it’s worth, still read the manual even if you think you know everything. Chances are, you don’t. If you don’t have the time to go through everything at the time, at least keep the manual somewhere that you can easily access it should you need it in the future. For one thing, you may use the glove compartment to keep your manual–at least for now.
Get to know the meaning behind each warning light.
Some parts or components with light indicators include the coolant, ABS, brake, electrical wirings, engine, and oil. Know what each of the lights means and what it asks from your end. For example, if the light indicator for the wirings are up, it’s a potential cause for a short-circuit if not addressed properly. The best course of action from your end is to bring the car for servicing as soon as possible. Don’t wait too long as you may risk having a non-functional car in the middle of nowhere.
Inspect the tire pressure.
Don’t just look how clean the tires look after that much-needed car wash. Learn to inspect the more important aspects, such as tread depth, alignment, and the presence of debris in between the tires that may cause them to blow up if not addressed in a timely manner.
Use some available apps if possible.
A lot of automotive manufacturers fortunately created and designed their own mobile software. These applications will make it easier for you to monitor the condition of the basic car components even without much technical knowledge about it. Learn how to use the app for your car model and make sure to check it at least once a day. It’s not a lot of hard work, and the app is most likely free, so make the most use out of it.
Maintaining your car is a long-term process that comes with owning a car. Also, it doesn't mean that what you know right now remains the status quo a few years from now. Therefore, you have to make sure you keep yourself updated when it comes to matters that concern basic car maintenance and even the advanced ones. You don't have to be an expert in the latter–just make sure you have an inkling of what they are about so you'll have an idea when your car needs some fixing or maintenance work.
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
