Buying a new car is great. You drive off the dealership, basking in a car that drives well and works like it’s supposed to. What if you could keep that new car feeling for years? In many cases, you can! Basic preventative maintenance helps you spot trouble before it becomes a costly repair down the road. The DMV offers some advice to help keep you and your car safely on the road:
It may seem intimidating, but basic care car is often simply a matter of popping open the hood and taking a look at the engine of your vehicle.
Some basic car care starts with examining the exterior. Check your tires at least every other week to make sure they are inflated properly. This should be an actual check with a tire pressure gauge, but you may also advantage from a visual check to make sure the tires appear equally and properly inflated.
Other visual checks that require almost no vehicle mechanics knowledge include the following:
- body and bumper damage, which should be monitored for insurance purposes
- leaking fluids underneath the vehicle, including oil, power and brake fluid, transmission or other fluid (air-conditioning may cause water to drip under a vehicle)
- smoke in vehicle exhaust, aside from normal diesel emissions or startup fumes
- engine or fluid warning lights, which should be promptly addressed before any further driving
Of course, much of the day-to-day driving maintenance for your vehicle must occur with the hood opened and up, but that doesn't mean you have to be a mechanic. The most important things to monitor and check regularly include the following:
- engine oil level and cleanliness
- antifreeze/coolant level (never attempt to remove radiator cap while engine is hot or warm)
- brake and power steering fluid levels
- transmission fluid
- belts
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