The car is an extension of your home, and you should treat it as such. You wouldn’t leave the house in disrepair and expect a good night’s sleep, so why would you do that with your vehicle? A vehicle is a significant investment that can last decades if properly managed. Keep on reading for our list of 7 car maintenance must-haves:
Driver Belts & Accessory Belts
- Driver belts: These are to buckle your seatbelt and keep you secure in your vehicle. It would be best to replace them whenever they become frayed, worn, or torn due to normal wear and tear.
- Accessory belts: These are extra-wide and go around or through the steering wheel, seatbelts, and other high-risk areas where there may be accidents if something happens while driving with an unsafe amount of slack in the belt system. The best way to determine if these need replacement is by looking at them closely; if they look like they’re starting to fray on one side or another, then it’s probably time for new ones!
Fluids
The lifeblood of your engine is oil. It’s what keeps everything running smoothly, but if you don’t check it regularly, problems can arise. The first step in ensuring that your car’s oil level is optimal is to use the correct type of oil for your vehicle. You should also follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when changing this part of your car’s maintenance schedule–this will ensure that all aspects are working correctly and efficiently without any issues cropping up later on down the line.
It may seem difficult at first glance, but checking an engine’s oil level isn’t too difficult; all you need is a dipstick (an instrument used for measuring how much liquid remains) and some patience! Once again: follow instructions from manufacturers on when best practice says this should happen.
Battery
You should replace your car battery every five years. Know that getting the correct type of battery is essential. A lead-acid battery with a high energy density that can handle the driving vibration is something you should invest on. You also want a long shelf life. If you need more time for regular maintenance visits at the dealership, consider purchasing an extended warranty on your new car purchase from a trusted manufacturer.
If you notice any leaks in your vehicle’s electrical system (e.g., power windows), replace them immediately! Leaking batteries can cause damage to other parts within their system–and this will cost more than just buying another one! It may seem common sense when someone says, “you need fresh air in there.” Still, many people forget about them until they experience problems later due to corrosion on their old ones’ terminals. Where corrosion builds up over time because there isn’t enough room for oxygen inside because everything else is too tight around those terminals–so if anything gets too hot, it’ll burn through them, causing significant problems downstream.
Filters
Oil filters are one of the most critical maintenance items on your car. They filter out contaminants from the engine, including dirt and dust, that can cause performance issues.
Fuel filters do just what their name implies: filter fuel for cleanliness and safety. It’s also good to change these occasionally because they can become clogged with dirt over time or if you’re driving in squalid conditions (like rain).
Air filters keep your engine running smoothly by allowing air through while keeping out pollen, dust particles, smoke, etc., which could negatively affect performance in other areas, such as fuel efficiency and emissions control system performance.
Headlights
It would help if you replaced the headlights every 3-4 years.
Headlights are an essential safety feature and can be expensive, especially if you must return them whenever you get a new vehicle.
To check for cracks or leaks in your headlights, turn on the lights while looking through them from outside your car (if they’re not on already). Then look at the lenses inside each headlight and see if there’s any dust or debris on them; this may indicate a leak coming from somewhere inside that needs fixing. If there’s no visible damage, but you still notice some discoloration around one of your two headlights’ lenses–this could mean internal corrosion has set in over time! You’ll want to clean this area off with rubbing alcohol before continuing with any repairs because putting grease back into these spots could cause further damage later down the line.
Motor Oil
Motor oil is the lubrication fluid that prevents your car’s moving parts from wearing down and causing damage. When you replace your motor oil, it’s best to change it simultaneously as you change the transmission fluid.
Motor oils come in different types. Synthetic oils are also more expensive than their counterparts. Still, they’re safer for your engine because they don’t contain harmful substances like benzene or toluene–which may cause cancer if ingested over long periods by humans!
Strong Brakes
Brakes are a safety feature that can save your life. They need replacement when they don’t work as well as before. You should check the brake fluid regularly. You should periodically inspect brake lines and rotors to see if they are damaged or cracked.
Don’t Dream It, Drive It!
It’s essential to keep your car in good condition. Luckily, with a little bit of research and some time, you can ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly and safely. Advice from auto body repair shops in Houston will help you too.
The first step is knowing what you should check on your vehicle regularly. This will help ensure everything goes smoothly while driving or taking long trips. The next thing is ensuring all parts are working correctly before they break down unexpectedly; this includes checking tire pressure, oil levels, fluid levels (if applicable), brake pads/shoes/lubricants. Everything! For example: if there’s no noise coming from under the hood when starting up, then there might be something wrong internally with either engine components (like pistons) or other electrical components like starters or wires inside those engines themselves – which means taking apart parts could solve this problem quickly but also cost money since they’re usually expensive materials required for repair work.
