Routine Automotive Maintenance - Taking Care Of The Baby
Posted on: 27 July 2017
With today's high prices on new vehicles, a car is often the most expensive asset that a person owns. As with any asset, it is important to protect it and make sure it doesn't lose value unnecessarily. The best way to protect the value of an automobile is to make sure all routine maintenance is performed.
When people think of routine auto maintenance, they usually think about getting the oil changed every 3000 miles and making sure there is enough windshield wiper fluid in the tank. There are several other maintenance tasks that are not as commonly remembered but that can be just as destructive to a car if they are not completed:
Tires - Many people think that tires just need to be purchased and kept full of air until they wear out and then buy another set but regularly rotating the tires is critical to their lasting as long as possible. When the front end of a vehicle is aligned, the front tires can be slightly tilted and/or toed in which puts an unequal amount of wear on the tread. To battle this the tires should be rotated every 5,000-8,000 miles. Depending on whether it is a front, rear or 4-wheel drive vehicle determines the proper rotation pattern. By maintaining this routine tires should last much longer.
Cooling system - Another area that is important to maintain is the cooling system. Not only is it critical to make sure it is working properly but the level of coolant/antifreeze must be correct. Although the majority of the time weather conditions do not play a part in this system, extremely hot or extremely cold days can cause serious damage to the system if antifreeze levels are not sufficient to protect it.
Body and undercarriage - One of the most neglected parts of a vehicle when it comes to maintenance are the body and paint as well as the undercarriage of the vehicle. Because they are not mechanical it is easy to overlook how vulnerable they are with poor maintenance. Given the constant exposure to the elements such as rain, ice, salt, and sun, the paint and undercarriage can very quickly become rusted or faded. Regular washing of the vehicle with a specific undercoat wash will help with this protection but it is also important to regularly apply a wax coating and an undercarriage protection spray to help keep the elements out.
Over time, even with proper maintenance, a vehicle will begin to wear out, but owners who properly maintain will find that their baby will stay young much longer.
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