The Basics of Preventative Vehicle Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance checks and services on your vehicle is essential for keeping it running reliably. Many major breakdowns and expensive repairs can be prevented just by adhering to recommended service intervals. While modern cars require less hands-on maintenance than older models, they still need regular basic inspection and care. Knowing some key areas to proactively maintain helps you avoid being suddenly stranded.
Fluids
Checking fluid levels under the hood should become second nature each time you fill up on gas. Engine oil and transmission fluids are essential for proper mechanical operation, cooling, and lubrication. Power steering, brake, wiper, and coolant/antifreeze also have reservoirs to fill as needed. Cleaner fluids protect better, so following fluid change intervals as advised boosts effectiveness. Topping off or replacing deteriorating fluids in these systems eliminates depletion, the root cause of grinding, burning or catastrophic failures.
Air Filter Replacement
Replacing air filters prevents decreased engine performance and efficiency over time. As air filters capture debris and contaminants entering engine intake tracts, airflow becomes restricted limiting combustion. Mixing fresh air with fuel enables clean burns making power, but filters losing porosity increasingly hamper this. Monitoring filters against marked service intervals protects MPG suffering up to 10% from neglected choking. Keep in mind that longer distances result in fewer filter stains to monitor. Earlier replacement restores unimpeded airflow if significantly darkened prematurely. Easy access with handy instructions make owner do-it-yourself installing fresh filters possible without special tools or knowledge. Proactively maintaining air filters maintains MPGs optimizing what engines ingest so maximum miles extract from each gallon.
Belts and Hoses
Inspecting belts and hoses prevents many engine startup issues often left unattended until they fail. Corroded leaking radiator hoses cause rapid overheating that make travel impossible without repair. Frayed weak belts skip slipping over pulleys, eventually snapping altogether. Severed belts disable alternator battery charging and water pump coolant circulation resulting in stalls. Besides examining belts and hoses for leakage, deterioration and tension, also check that fittings are securely tightened at least yearly. Replacing belts and hoses roughly every five years maintains integrity, keeping your vehicle running consistently.
Battery/Charging System
According to the people at Clore Automotive, a quality battery load tester simulates demanding discharge loads verifying battery and charging system integrity. These maintenance steps detect not only dying batteries but alternator issues unable to keep pace replacing power consumed. Waiting until debilitating symptoms appear risks being suddenly immobilized at inopportune times. Conduct annual battery and charging tests to qualify both as fit to dependably support vehicle electrical needs preventing unexpected shutdowns. Replace as indicated.
Tires
Tires sustain enormous wear meeting pavement friction forces bearing your car’s heaviest components. The only things connecting the engine’s power to the road, and keeping the car in control, are the tire contact patches, each about the size of a hand. Thus keeping tread depth, pressure and alignment current prevents handling disasters awaiting slippery, distorted or bald tires. Monthly pressure checks detecting slow leaks supplemented by careful visual inspections for embedded objects, bulges and abnormal wear spots maintain grip essential in all weather. Follow tread depth measures molded into grooves determining remaining usefulness before hazards materialize unannounced.
Conclusion
Making once familiar but neglected basic maintenance practices part of normal use promotes ongoing road safety and readiness. Establish monthly priorities like tire pressure or checking under hood fluids. Schedule deeper annual analyses like charging tests and hose examinations to qualify total system fitness. Consistent car care avoids costly and inconvenient surprises from gradual mechanical failures. Staying vigilant and using proven preservation techniques will help ensure you remain mobile.
