Basic maintenance and upkeep can save a car owner a larger mechanic bill. There are a few things that can be checked on an owner’s own time to make sure their car is ready for the road and journeys that may lie ahead.
One thing to stay on top of is checking the tire pressure. What a person will need is a tire pressure gauge and, to know the needed pressure or PSI inside the tire. One can find that number in the owner's manual or usually inside the driver’s door jam on a sticker. Keeping the tire pressure at the correct PSI can make or break a smooth ride. Service Advisor for Jensen Tires, Daniel Axtell shared some insights on maintenance.
“Keeping your tire pressure at the correct PSI can really help the ride and feel less of the Omaha roads, it will make or break your ride without even realizing it,” Axtell said.
One thing to watch out for is the seasons taking a quick change, that air temperature drop can zap that air pressure lower than it should be. Many gas stations have free air or charge a low price to use their machines to refill tires. Changing weather also changes the type of maintenance that needs to be done.
An important thing to check is window washer fluid, if low a local gas station or auto parts store is more than likely to have what is needed. Washing away that road salt and dirty snow will greatly improve visibility and safety.
While on windshields, checking wipers is important. If the wipers are skipping spots or cracked it's time to replace them with new ones. A local car parts store should have a manual on car types, models, and makes.
“Having fresh wipers can improve safety greatly, visibility is super important on the road, especially in the winter with the snow and frost covering windshields. Fresh wipers can help scrape and keep windows clean on the road,” Axtell said.
Checking oil levels can keep the vehicle safe on the road. Pulling the oil stick and looking at levels indicates how much oil is currently in the engine. If it is low, it is time to add more or get an oil change. An oil change will extend the life of a vehicle. Without oil, the engine can seize up and no longer operate correctly or safely. AN oil change is easy to schedule at a local dealership or mechanic shop and can be done within an afternoon. The oil change will come with a sticker indicating the next time the vehicle will be due for another oil change. Either the vehicle will reach the next date recommended or enough miles will have been put on the vehicle to indicate its time for a swap.
“Doing a routine oil change can help save money for you as the vehicle owner. Dirty oil can ruin an engine quickly so staying on top of a clean engine is the best way to keep your car healthy,” Axtell said.
A larger expense but an important one is brakes. Getting brake pads and rotors checked every two seasons can also spare a car owner a huge bill if taken care of properly. Scheduling with a dealership or local mechanic shop is easy and quick to get a run down taken on a vehicle.
Staying on top of basic maintenance can extend the life of a vehicle with minimal effort. Basic maintenance is almost more important than larger tasks needed to be done on a vehicle because with the basic usual maintenance larger expenses can be avoided. Taking pride in a vehicle comes in many forms. Drive safely and use the vehicle’s blinkers.
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