Car Maintenance: 5 Things Anyone Can Do

Basic Car Care Tips

October is Fall Car Care Month, and, with the weather in many areas turning colder and wetter, and the days getting shorter, it’s the perfect time to perform some routine maintenance on your car to help ensure safety and reliability.

What’s that? You’re not a mechanic?

Not to worry. You don’t have to be an expert to handle these tasks. In fact, preventative maintenance can help reduce the number of times you have to pay one of those experts to make repairs!

Here are five things you can do today to help keep your car in good shape down the road:

1. Get to know your owner’s manual. Your car is unique, and so are some of its needs. Check your manual to learn about recommended service intervals and other requirements. And, keep it handy whenever you do maintenance. Before you know it, you’ll have a better understanding of your car than you ever thought possible.
2. Look at your tires every month. This means both the air pressure and the tread. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help improve your gas mileage, and having enough tread is crucial, particularly during inclement weather. Here’s a quick tread test: Insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. Can you see his entire head? It’s time to replace your tires.
3. Check your fluids. Your manual should help you locate various gauges or dipsticks to check your fluids, including antifreeze/coolant (roughly every 12 months), power steering (about every 3 months), automatic transmission (approximately every 3 months) and wiper fluid (regularly). If you’re low, follow the instructions to add more.
4. Don’t forget your oil. We’re including this separately from other fluids, because it’s just that important. Get it changed as recommended, but check the level at least once a month, or every other time you fill up with gas. For the most accurate reading, wait at least 5 minutes after you’ve turned off the engine. Also, take note of what it looks like — is it clean or murky? The latter could indicate a problem.
5. How are the lights? Headlights are important, but don’t ignore your other lights, such as taillights, turn signals and reverse lights. Keep them clean and replace bulbs as needed.

For any of these tasks, you can likely find additional guidance online, such as YouTube videos explaining how to change a headlight or replace wiper blades on your specific vehicle. Or, check out CarCare.org for even more tips.

Of course, no matter how familiar you become with your car, you’ll still want to leave the heavy lifting to the pros. Have your car serviced at the intervals the manufacturer recommends. And, don’t forget perhaps the ultimate preventative maintenance — making sure you have car insurance. It won’t necessarily keep your car on the road, but it will help you get back on the road in the event of an accident.