5 Car Maintenance Tips Which Will Save Your Effort And Money

If you start to closely monitor the condition of your car, in the long term, you can save a lot of manpower and resources. In addition to saving on repairs, the driver gets a more durable and reliable car. If you have to part with your “iron horse”, then the income from its sale will be much higher. The review presents 5 simple tips that will help any driver to reduce unnecessary expenses for a car.

1. Use only high-quality gasoline.
Three things are needed to operate an automobile engine: fuel, air, and an electric spark. The fuel used must always be of high quality, otherwise, the machine will not work as it should and even repairs may be required. Gasoline is worth buying only at proven gas stations. In this case, the well-known name of the fuel company does not guarantee high-quality fuel. Also, it is far from the fact that more expensive fuel will be better than a cheap one.

Drivers should pay attention to the labeling of fuel. Some car models are allowed to refuel with different grades of gasoline (for example, both A-92 and A-95). In this case, it is better not to be greedy, and use the one that has a higher octane number. It gives an increase in power and a reduction in consumption. Especially noticeable effect on cars with injection.

2. Inspect and maintain electrical systems
When servicing a car, electrical power is usually given little attention. But it also needs to be monitored, because the problems begin already with the battery terminals. Every time, looking under the hood, you should inspect them. Terminals must be clean and free of debris. Wires must not be twisted or bent. “Negative” wire is then connected to “ground” (the body and engine of the car). The place of its attachment to the body should also be clean, and the wire should not hang out. And it should be remembered that in any work with electrical equipment, the negative terminal is disconnected from the battery first, and only then the positive terminal. This is very important for the safety of “gentle” electrical appliances.

3. There are no “eternal” filters.
Air is also needed for engine operation, just like gasoline. It is absorbed from under the hood, where it must be filtered from debris and dust. In modern cars, as a rule, one filter is applied. It should be changed at least as indicated in the instruction manual. But if the vehicle is operated in the southern regions, where there is a lot of dust, then it is worth doing it more often. Dust clogs the filter and does not allow air to pass through. Because of this, the car loses power and may not even start. Without a filter also cannot go. Grains of sand and debris, falling into the engine cylinders, lead to accelerated wear and tear, and then further degrade the properties of engine oil.

In addition to air, fuel and oil filters also require attention. They should also be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is not necessary to wait for problems with the fuel injection system or deterioration of parts lubrication. This is fraught with large financial losses.

4. Check liquids regularly
In a modern car, quite a lot of fluids are used, including engine oil, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, transmission oil, and thick lubricants in the chassis. From time to time it is necessary to check their level as well as quality (purity). The number of engine and transmission oils is checked by probes, which mark the minimum and maximum levels. To save a car longer, it is worth making a habit of opening the hood and checking the oil level during each refueling with gasoline.

Capacity with brake fluid is also under the hood – on the rear wall of the engine compartment directly in front of the driver. Here it should not be opened without a valid reason unless you are going to add liquid.


5. Check the condition of the wheels
Tire pressure directly affects their lifespan, fuel economy and safety. However, few drivers regularly check the air pressure in the wheels. Some new cars have built-in tire pressure sensors that display a message on the dashboard. For the rest, pressure testing should become a standard procedure at every refueling or at least once a week.

Treadwear is another important factor in tire quality. The lower the tread height, the worse the grip properties of tires. Braking distance increases, which makes driving dangerous. The minimum size of the tread is regulated by law: 1.6 mm for summer tires and 4 mm for winter tires. Tires that are worn to such a limit are one way to landfill.

To increase the service life of the wheels of the car and to ensure a more even wear of the tires, they are swapped. Every 10,000 kilometers (or when changing the oil) the wheels are rearranged according to a special scheme: the rear wheels are put forward and the front wheels are moved back, also changing left and right. At the same time, they also look at the general condition of the tires, checking for the absence of scuffs and cones.