Tennis Player World

Modern cars are significantly more complex than their counterparts from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and working on them is an even more specialized discipline. The modern mechanic needs a laptop computer as much as he needs a tool box, and for this reason even those with a decent aptitude for working on engines are opting to have their repairs done by a professional. Still, there are a number of simple car maintenance steps that anyone can do. These simple tasks will go a long way toward preventing trouble which saves you time and money as well as resulting in a safer driving experience.

–Wash your car regularly: Keeping the exterior clean may not be as important as taking care of what’s under the hood, but it still has a number of practical upsides. A clean car looks better, of course, and its much more enjoyable to drive a clean car than a dirty car. More significantly, frequent washing will keep your headlights and windshield clean, as well as preventing rust and corrosion.

–Clean the undercarriage of the car: This is especially true if you live anywhere it snows”all of the salt and other gunk your car gets underneath it will rust out your body faster than anything. I dont care how cold it is, you should give your car a good bath at least once a week during the winter, and make sure to get underneath the wheel wells and the undercarriage of your car.

–Wash your engine: Not only is your engine subject to the same ‘threats’ as the exterior and undercarriage of your car, it also collects crusty oil, battery acid and a variety of other contaminants. Keeping your engine clean will not only protect against corrosive damage, but will help your car run cooler and more efficiently. Wash your engine every time you wash your car, and let it idle before you start driving to allow it to dry completely.

–Clean your air filter and change it often: Change your air filter every time you change your oil filter. Some might argue that changing it so often is ‘overkill’ but filters are so cheap why not err on the side of caution? In between filter changes its a good idea to give your filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber at the same time. The clean air will help your car’s engine run cooler and more efficiently.

–Check and change your oil: Before self serve gas became the norm in the US, every full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. Even if you’re like most people and go the self serve route, you should still change your oil every time you buy gas. Change your oil often–every 3,000 to 5,000 miles–and don’t forget to change your oil filter. If you don’t want to tackle the job yourself, there’s no shortage of drive through oil change businesses that will do the job for a reasonable fee. They’ll usually take care of a number of other items on this list, such as checking tire pressure and fluid levels.

–Check other fluids: Change your anti-freeze/coolant every year, and check the reservoir every week or so to make sure it’s full. Also check transmission, brake and power steering fluids at least once a week. Top them off if necessary.

–Check and rotate your tires: Check the air pressure of your tires at least once a week, and keep them filled to the manufacturer specified levels. If you have a real spare tire, and not one of those useless ‘donut’ tires check the pressure in that as well. Rotate your tires every few months to insure even wear. Some automotive chains will rotate tires they sold free of charge. In any case, if you don’t want to do this yourself any decent garage can do it for a very nominal fee. Simply checking the air pressure in your tires and rotating them periodically prevents countless problems and saves you a ton of money. Tires are expensive, and nothing will wear them out faster than improper inflation or uneven wear–not to mention the fact that worn tires are dangerous to drive on.

Emergency tools and equipment: Despite your best efforts to the contrary, things will eventually go wrong. When in does, youll be glad that you planned ahead. These items should be in your trunk at all times: tire gauge, pliers (slip-joint and needle nose), adjustable wrench, flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Dont buy cheap tools”theyll break and the least opportune times. Invest in Craftsman tools or another premium brand, and youll be set for life. Youll also need a flashlight, and if you live somewhere it snows its also a good idea to have salt, sand, a small shovel, and a blanket just in case you get snowbound and have to sleep in your car. A cellphone charger is also a good thing to have, since a cellphone doesn’t do much good if your batteries are dead. There are also ‘emergency’ cellphone chargers that don’t require a power source.

–Get an auto club membership: AAA is the best known and they offer a wide range of services but there are other options. If you have a credit card or gas card, youll probably be offered a membership through them. They should give you free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. Some cellphone providers also offer roadside assistance memberships billed to your telephone. A growing number of car manufacturers also include lifetime roadside assistance, and not just luxury brands–Mini Cooper and Volkswagen offer new car buyers 24 hour roadside assistance free of charge. Even if you have to pay for it, it’s well worth the money that youll pay for it every year. Keep in mind, however, that all roadside assistance companies aren’t created equal–in a decent sized city you’ll be fine but if you live or frequently travel in less populated areas you might want to stick to AAA or another major company. There’s nothing more infuriating that learning that your auto club doesn’t have providers in Mesquite, Nevada or Vernal, Utah.

These tips require any real mechanical skill, but will enhance your driving experience. You’ll have a safer, better running vehicle that will be more dependable and cost you less money over the long haul.

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