How to Maintain your New Car- What Every First Time Driver Should Know |
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Dan Hinchee
5 February 2015
Getting a new car is exciting. But you must be prepared to do all it takes to extend the life of your new car. You'll have to keep up with some servicing and repairs if you don't want your car to breakdown when you least expect it. We are going to look at the most common types of maintenance services required to keep your car in top notch shape.
Regular oil changes
You'll need to change your oil regularly in order to make sure it adequately protects your engine and other moving parts from heat and friction. With time, the oil in your car is going to age causing the engine to breakdown. Most mechanics recommend an oil change after every 3,000 miles. With time the car will require more frequent oil changes as it ages.
Air pressure checks
No matter how expensive or durable your tires are, they are likely to lose air pressure over time. Making sure the tires are properly inflated is not just for enhancing their service life but also for your own safety. Under or over inflated tires can cause serious accidents especially when you are driving in high speeds.
Check your car battery
Your car battery is designed to last for up to 5 years but most times they never get to serve for that long. Issues like harsh temperatures and extreme driving habits can make the car batteries die quickly. What you can do is to have a mechanic perform a battery charge test on a regular basis especially if your tire has reached 3 years old. This test will alert you when the battery is about to die so that you can get a replacement.
Check the air filters
Every car has an air filtration system that is used to get rid of contaminants and debris from getting into the engine as it runs. Because these air filters block all manner of contaminants, they are likely to get clogged overtime. Clogged filters can undermine the performance of your car engine. This is because when the filters get clogged they are unable to reduce airflow making the car's engine to work twice as hard. As the contaminants build up, they can easily make their way to the engine and wear down the metal parts. This compromises on the service life of your engine and exposes your car to more frequent repairs. The best you can do is to have the air filters checked on a regular basis and get a replacement after an oil change.
Replace the wiper blades
Wiper blades deteriorate fast due to several reasons. For a start, they are usually made of rubber that is affected by extreme temperatures like heat. Salt and ice are also likely to affect wiper blades and make then wear down fast. If you notice the blades are not cleaning up rain or snow properly, it could be time to have them replaced. This is a quick and easy fix that must be done by a mechanic.