Car maintenance is something that most men don’t think about until it’s too late. Car owners usually know when their car needs to be serviced, but they often overlook the smaller things like tire pressure and wiper blades.
These seemingly insignificant items can make a big difference in your everyday driving experience. In this blog post, we’ll give you ten car maintenance tips that will help keep your vehicle running smoothly and take care of those pesky little details before they become major problems!
Get your tires rotated and balanced.
Tire rotation is essential to help extend the life of your tires. By rotating them, you’re ensuring that they wear evenly instead of just wearing down in a few spots all at once.
Rotating also helps even out any minor imperfections that have developed over time so they don’t get worse, which could lead to a blowout on the freeway.
Most tire shops will do this for you as part of your regular oil change or servicing visit, but it’s also something that can be done at home with an inexpensive tool from your local parts store. Just make sure not to over-tighten the lug nuts when doing this task yourself!
If your tires are wearing unevenly or you’ve noticed your car pulling to one side, it’s time for a tire rotation.
The same thing goes for balancing the wheels – if they’re not balanced properly, this can lead to vibration in the steering wheel and even damage to your vehicle over time. If that’s happening, have them checked out by a professional.
Check your windshield wipers.
Wiper blades are one of the most commonly overlooked car maintenance items. If you live in an area where it snows or rains a lot, it could be something that needs to be replaced more often than you think.
If your wipers are streaking or leaving behind a black residue, it’s time to start thinking about a replacement – they may not be able to do their job very well if that’s happening! In case you notice any cracking in the blades’ material, replace them immediately, as this could lead to more damage to your windshield.
If your windshield wipers are more than a year old, they may need a good cleaning. There’s usually an arm that will allow you to pop the wiper off and give it a thorough scrubbing with regular dish soap on your garage floor. If your wipers are older than that, it may be time to replace them.
Suppose you don’t have an extra set of wiper blades handy and cannot get your wipers replaced at the moment. In that case, a spray bottle filled with window cleaner or water can work as a temporary fix until you can do this maintenance task properly.
To replace your wiper blades, you can do it yourself at home once you’ve bought a replacement blade. If your car is newer, the wiper arm will most likely pop off with some gentle force – but if it’s older or there’s rust involved, make sure to check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to get this task done properly and safely!
Here is a YouTube video on how to replace wiper blades:
You can also have your local car dealership or mechanic change them for you if that’s more convenient.
Check your tire pressure.
This is an easy thing to overlook, but it’s also extremely important! The recommended psi (pounds per square inch) for all vehicles can usually be found in the owner’s manual or on the inside edge of your driver’s side door.
Checking and adjusting tire pressure is easy to do, but it has a significant impact on how you drive and fuel economy – so don’t forget this step! Your car will thank you for ensuring its tires are correctly inflated.
Make sure that you check and adjust this at least once a month, especially before long road trips or if you live in a cold climate where the pressure drops as temperatures drop.
You can also check your tire pressure and inflate it with a handheld tool or inflate them to the recommended psi with a compressor at your local gas station.
Don’t forget to check the spare tire as well! If you notice any damage, take it in immediately for service. This is especially important if you’re driving long distances since flat tires are never fun, and they’re even worse when there’s nothing around for miles.
Check your air filter.
Many guys don’t realize that the air filter in their car needs to be replaced periodically.
If you notice a significant drop-off in your fuel economy or if your engine is having trouble starting, this could mean it’s time to change out your air filter. This isn’t something you need to do too often – usually every 20,000 to 30,000 miles – but it’s good to be aware of.
If you’re having trouble finding your air filter or don’t have the time to change it out yourself, you can take your car to a local mechanic or dealership and have them do this for you as well.
Keep your windshield washer fluid-filled.
This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many men forget to keep their windshield washer fluid levels topped off! If you don’t do this simple task regularly, you’re at risk of getting stuck out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to clean your windshield; and that can be very dangerous. Especially if you’re on the road traveling long distances, it’s essential to keep your windshield washer fluid levels topped off so that you can see clearly.
Check your brakes.
If you notice they’re feeling a little spongy or find yourself pumping the brake pedal to get them up to an acceptable level, it’s time for new ones.
Don’t wait until this happens when you are driving; ensure that these things are checked out regularly (at least twice per year) to ensure your safety on the road.
Remember that having regular maintenance performed by a reputable mechanic or dealership is always recommended, too!
You can’t be too careful when it comes to keeping you and your family safe while driving, especially since accidents do happen. Having routine car maintenance done will help keep these things from happening and ensure that your car is always in working order.
Check your hoses.
Hoses are another thing that men don’t check nearly as often enough – and these things can lead to significant problems if you neglect them! If they’re cracked or brittle, it’s time for a replacement because the last thing you want is coolant spewing out onto your driveway or engine block while driving down the highway.
If you’re unsure of how to do this on your own, take it to a local mechanic or dealership and have them inspect the hoses for you – they’ll be able to tell if any replacements are needed!
Keep your gas tank at least half full.
Keeping an eye on fuel levels regularly is a good idea in case of emergencies and will help you avoid the temptation to drive when you are running low.
Driving with less than a quarter of a tank can damage your car’s engine over time and leave you stranded on the side of the road without warning.
This is because fuel lines can become clogged and force your car to run out of gas even if the gauge is reading a little bit left.
Take care not to overfill it either, though; this could be just as bad for your car’s engine because gasoline expands once it gets warm, so you’ll need some empty space in the gas tank for this to happen.
So make sure you keep your fuel levels between half and three-quarters full whenever possible. It will help ensure that you can get where you need to go with the peace of mind knowing that your car is ready for anything!
Check your battery.
Protect your battery from corrosion by keeping it clean. Use a wire brush to remove any debris accumulated on the terminals and connection points, then use a cloth or paper towel dampened with water to wipe away any dirt or grime that remains. Do not let this liquid drip into the battery cells.
Check your battery’s fluid levels. If the level is low, add distilled water to bring it to the appropriate line (usually around where the filler caps are).
Be sure your car engine runs well before you take a long trip, and be aware that driving habits can affect performance, too.
Accelerate slowly from stops; keep speeds down on highways and take turns more slowly. Stopping and starting your car quickly can cause a strain on the battery, which is something you want to avoid when heading out for a road trip.
Keep an emergency kit in your car.
You never know when disaster might strike, and you’ll find yourself stranded away from home. By having a well-stocked emergency kit in your car, you’ll be able to deal with any situation that comes up as smoothly as possible.
This includes the following items:
- First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic ointment, and pain reliever.
- Flashlight or headlamp. You never know when your car’s battery will go dead, so it’s good to have an alternate light source on hand, just in case.
- Blankets or sleeping bags.
- Reflectors, flares, or triangles (to place on the road to alert passing cars of your presence).
- An ice scraper and a snow brush (for dealing with winter weather conditions).
- Nonperishable snacks, water, or sports drinks.
- Waterproof matches and a disposable butane lighter.
This is just the start; you can add whatever else you think might be necessary for your kit. Just remember that having these things available could help you avoid much more severe issues down the road!
Conclusion.
We hope these ten car maintenance skills will help you keep your vehicle running smoothly for many years. If you have any other car care questions, please comment below!
Matthew Mansour is a professional life coach, fitness trainer, health coach, a blogger with over 800 articles published to date. He enjoys reading and researching books that are reflective of the nature of who we are as humans, understanding the complexity of our minds, and using it as an advantage to propel us forward in life.
He is a self-help enthusiast and he is not ashamed about it! He’s always looking for his next fix of inspiration, motivation, insight, and wisdom from those who have been there before him!
He also does a lot of courses and research on the latest and greatest in the area of self-help, life coaching, and health.
He likes to share his discoveries with anyone who is interested in listening! His personal goal is to help people achieve great results in their lives, that is why he also has a blog about self-improvement.
He loves animals and he currently lives in New Jersey with his loving wife and his recently born child.