6 Car Tips Every Driver Should Know
Do you dread bringing your car to the mechanic?there are some tips to take care of your car better.
Khodrocar - Buying your very first car is an exciting adulting moment, but not one that’s easy. Even with expert insider tips on purchasing your ride or apps designed to make a car owner’s lifestyle easier, there’s still auto maintenance, gas costs, and the hassles of parking.
1. Check your maintenance schedule. One simple way to maintain your car’s overall health is to grab your owner’s manual in your glove box and read it. Search for the maintenance schedule, which will give you the deets on oil change intervals, fluid flushes, and air filter replacement. Follow your manufacturer’s recommended schedule to keep things in tip-top shape.
2. Find a mechanic you trust. One study by Northwestern University found that women were routinely getting overcharged for car repairs from auto body shops as compared to men, so it can be hard to find the right mechanic. "A great way to find a mechanic is to ask for referrals from female friends. There are also online resources such as our #sheCANic facebook community, womenautoknow.com, or askpatty.com,” says Banks. You’ll know you’ve found your primary care technician when he or she can actually explain what they’re doing. "A great PCT should be friendly and patient, a good communicator and easy to understand, and understand the balance between urgent and non-urgent repairs,” says Banks.
3. Weatherproof your car. If you live in an area with inclement weather like snow, hail, heavy rains, or ice, Banks recommends you implement the following: "Make sure your battery is less than four years old. Car shops should have a battery test to determine your car battery’s life. Batteries typically last about five years and all batteries have a harder time in extreme temperatures,” says Banks. Check your tire tread, which should be at least 4mm thick. Replace worn wiper blades and refill washer fluid with a winter grade formula, which has a lower freezing point than summer-grade fluid. Lastly, if it’s snowing often, wash your car every two weeks to keep road salt from rusting it.
4. Get regular oil changes. "Oil is the lifeline of your car,” says Banks. "Your engine is full of fast-moving parts rubbing up against each other. Without the oil’s lubrication, the friction in the engine’s fast-moving parts produces so much heat, your engine will seize up, essentially killing it.” It’s worth it to shell out $40 for regular oil changes rather than $3,000 for an engine replacement.
5. Pay attention to the dashboard lights. In general, dashboard lights are color coded. Green or blue lights mean that features like headlights or cruise control are on. Yellow means "check on this issue soon,” and red dashboard lights mean that "something is happening that is causing damage to your vehicle or making it unsafe to drive,” says Banks. If any of these red lights come on — brake light, oil pressure, charging system, coolant, flashing check engine, or power steering — do not ignore them; get to a mechanic ASAP.
6. Keep a quarter tank of gas at all times. You shouldn’t wait until your gas is on empty to fill up. "Gas is held in a large tank at the rear of your car, usually under the back seat. To get fuel from the tank to your engine, your car uses a fuel pump. The fuel pump propels gas to your engine, but also uses the gas to cool it from overheating. If you are low on gas, there is less fuel to lubricate the pump, and it may burn out. If you wear out your fuel pump, your car won’t start. You will need a tow to a shop and the fuel pump replaced — not a cheap job,” says Banks.
2. Find a mechanic you trust. One study by Northwestern University found that women were routinely getting overcharged for car repairs from auto body shops as compared to men, so it can be hard to find the right mechanic. "A great way to find a mechanic is to ask for referrals from female friends. There are also online resources such as our #sheCANic facebook community, womenautoknow.com, or askpatty.com,” says Banks. You’ll know you’ve found your primary care technician when he or she can actually explain what they’re doing. "A great PCT should be friendly and patient, a good communicator and easy to understand, and understand the balance between urgent and non-urgent repairs,” says Banks.
3. Weatherproof your car. If you live in an area with inclement weather like snow, hail, heavy rains, or ice, Banks recommends you implement the following: "Make sure your battery is less than four years old. Car shops should have a battery test to determine your car battery’s life. Batteries typically last about five years and all batteries have a harder time in extreme temperatures,” says Banks. Check your tire tread, which should be at least 4mm thick. Replace worn wiper blades and refill washer fluid with a winter grade formula, which has a lower freezing point than summer-grade fluid. Lastly, if it’s snowing often, wash your car every two weeks to keep road salt from rusting it.
4. Get regular oil changes. "Oil is the lifeline of your car,” says Banks. "Your engine is full of fast-moving parts rubbing up against each other. Without the oil’s lubrication, the friction in the engine’s fast-moving parts produces so much heat, your engine will seize up, essentially killing it.” It’s worth it to shell out $40 for regular oil changes rather than $3,000 for an engine replacement.
5. Pay attention to the dashboard lights. In general, dashboard lights are color coded. Green or blue lights mean that features like headlights or cruise control are on. Yellow means "check on this issue soon,” and red dashboard lights mean that "something is happening that is causing damage to your vehicle or making it unsafe to drive,” says Banks. If any of these red lights come on — brake light, oil pressure, charging system, coolant, flashing check engine, or power steering — do not ignore them; get to a mechanic ASAP.
6. Keep a quarter tank of gas at all times. You shouldn’t wait until your gas is on empty to fill up. "Gas is held in a large tank at the rear of your car, usually under the back seat. To get fuel from the tank to your engine, your car uses a fuel pump. The fuel pump propels gas to your engine, but also uses the gas to cool it from overheating. If you are low on gas, there is less fuel to lubricate the pump, and it may burn out. If you wear out your fuel pump, your car won’t start. You will need a tow to a shop and the fuel pump replaced — not a cheap job,” says Banks.
Source: brit.co
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