Buying a car or a truck is a costly exercise. You have to spend a lot of money out, whether you’re paying for the whole thing upfront or paying a deposit so that you can finance the rest in installments; not to mention insurance and licenses and fuel and everything else that goes with owning a vehicle. Repairs are yet another cost to add to the list, but there are ways to maintain your own car and keep it running smoothly so that, apart from regular tune ups, you shouldn’t need to spend out on too much else.
Change The Air Filter
The air filter in your car’s engine is there to stop dust and grit from getting into the delicate insides of your car’s mechanics. This kind of pollution can cause serious problems, and choke up the engine seriously. It can be an expensive problem to fix. So checking that your car’s air filter isn’t clogged up, and changing it if it is, is extremely important. You can buy paper filters very cheaply, or you might prefer a washable, high-flow filter instead (it’s better for the environment).
Check The Oil
If your vehicle is running low on oil then you could cause massive problems. In some cases, the entire engine can burn out. Always keep a spare container of the right kind of oil for your car; for instance, PEAK Commercial & Industrial is a highly regarded product, and it comes in many bottles that are designed to be kept in a car’s trunk. Before any big trip, make sure to check the vehicle’s oil levels. It’s always best to stop any issue in its tracks before it fully develops into a costly (and embarrassing) scenario.
Check The Tire Pressure
Your vehicle’s tires are essential for the smooth running of your car. They’re also essential for safety reasons. If they are under or over-inflated, you could be using far more fuel than you need to be, so investing in a tire pressure gauge is a great idea, as you can immediately see whether you’re running at the correct pressure or not. When tires begin to lose their tread, it’s time to replace them. There will be legal limits in your state, and if you fall below them you can easily get a ticket, not to mention if there is little or no tread on your tire, your car can’t grip the road and you could skid off and have a nasty accident.
Test Your Brakes
A vehicle that can’t stop as well as it should is a danger to everyone on the road, and to the driver themselves. Checking your brakes at the beginning of a journey is crucial. Before you hit the main roads or the highway, just as you’re leaving your residential area, try your brakes out when you’re going at a slow speed. Do they feel okay? Did you stop or slow down as you were expecting to? If not, get them checked out straight away.
