5 Basic Maintenance Tasks to Complete on Your Car

LLL Routine car maintenance is an important task that many people take for granted. By taking care of maintenance issues at scheduled intervals, you can ensure that your vehicle is always running at peak efficiency. You can also reduce the chance that your car may have a serious mechanical problem that will necessitate an expensive repair by a mechanic. Let’s take a look at five maintenance tasks that you can do yourself:

1. Checking the tire pressure

This may seem like an insignificant item. However, driving on tires that are not inflated to their correct pressure can cause you to get terrible gas mileage. A digital tire gauge would be a wise and inexpensive investment for anyone who owns a vehicle. When you are going to check the pressure, do it before you have driven the car that day. Tires get hot when they are driven. This causes their pressure to rise. The correct pressure for your tires should be stamped on the side of the tire. If it is not there, it will be in your vehicle owner’s manual.

2. Changing the air filter

Keeping a clean air filter in your vehicle can improve your gas mileage and the power generated by the vehicle. For most cars, replacing the filter is a task that literally takes five minutes. It make no sense to pay a mechanic to do a task that anyone can do. However, it is more complex to change the air filter on certain vehicles. You should check your owner’s manual before you start to find out exactly what is involved. When you take out the old filter, check to see which way it is supposed to go. This will help you avoid putting the new filter in upside-down.

3. Changing wiper blades

If you ever get caught driving in a heavy rain, having wiper blades that function properly could literally save your life. Once again, this is a simple tasks that there is no need to pay a mechanic to do. Your repair manual should have the instructions on how to install the blades. Most vehicles only require you to push a lever and pull the blade off. Other vehicles use small fasteners that are a little more difficult, but still something any person can manage. Make sure your new wiper blades are locked into position before you start driving.

4. Changing the oil

This may be more difficult on certain vehicles than others. However, it is generally a simple task. Jack your vehicle up or use ramps. Get a large pan to catch all of the oil in. Remove the drain plug with a socket wrench. The oil will drain into the pan. Get an oil filter wrench and remove the oil filter. Let the excess oil drain into the pan. Replace the drain plug and install a new oil filter. Pour in the correct amount of oil.

5. Changing a spark plug

This task only requires a socket wrench that has a spark plug socket. You may also need an extender to reach the spark plug if it is beyond the reach of the normal wrench. Be careful that you do not remove more than one plug at a time. Doing this might cause you to confuse which distributor cables are associated with which plug.

If you follow these 5 basic tips you will avoid expensive repairs and prolong the life of your investment. However when the time comes to upgrade your car, be sure to purchase a reputable make and model, such as those from Suzuki QLD, doing so will ensure that any ongoing maintenance is minimal and your car will remain on the road, where it belongs.