Smart routine maintenance is vital for preserving the longevity of your car, and being able to carry out some basic car maintenance can be both self-protective and utterly enjoyable to do.

Check your engine oil often, and replace it when it gets dirty. Replace it exactly when the maintenance schedule says to do so. Have your radiator coolant flushed periodically, too – at least every year or two, for the same reason. This will prevent sediment from building up and interfering with the cooling system.

Check Your Tire Pressure

By teaching yourself these car maintenance jobs, you’ll be keeping money in your wallet. And you’ll avoid costly breakdowns on the road. You’ll also find that your car will be much more pleasant to drive for longer. Pop the valve cap and a tire pressure gauge (inexpensive at most petrol stations) will show you where your tyre stands. If criminally low, fill it until it reads right.

Change Your Oil

Engine oil is necessary to keep your car’s and truck’s engine parts circulating smoothly and avoid becoming too hot. This type of oil prevents your engine from overheating and decreases wear and tear while reducing fuel costs. Regularly changing the oil stops wear on your car. Before putting it back into the tube, wipe it on a rag. Be sure your car is parked on level ground, and pull up on the parking brake before you drain your oil. If you’re under a car that could roll while you pull the drain plugs, use jack stands on the front to lift that end off the ground.

Check Your Battery If your battery no longer produces adequate amperage to crank your engine (or your headlights dim when idling) replacement is likely in order. Plug a multimeter into the battery’s terminals (the black lead attaches to the negative side) – check the charge if it’s no bigger than 12.5 volts, then clean any hardware with automotive-grade cleaner or a set of battery terminal pullers (both work well and can be found at most auto parts stores). Check at least once a month to stay healthy.

Check Your Tires

Keeping your tyres properly inflated saves you money by improving your fuel economy, and checking them regularly tells you when they’re about to bald. A penny tread check can be done to check for proper tread. Put the penny into the tire tread – if you can still see Lincoln clearly you definitely need new tires. Lights need to be checked as well.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Proper tire inflation saves fuel and can enhance handling so it is important to check your tire pressure at least once a month. To perform, begin by taking the cap off of your valve stem before pushing down on the tire pressure gauge until done (when the hissing ceases) before turning dial to read. Take your reading and compare it with what your vehicle manual advises as the set point.

Check Your Brakes

Brakes are one of the most important safety systems of your car, but when your brake pads are low, you might need to squeeze your brakes with all your might to stop the car. In most cars, the wheel holes are visible and rubber pads can be seen through them. When the rubber is less than a quarter of an inch thick, this may lead to an accident at some point.

Check Your Tires Riders must also regularly review tread depth and traction as part of routine tire maintenance, to maintain good fuel economy and to minimize and anticipate risks to the rider’s experience. Almost all DOT-regulated tyres have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know when tread wear gets down to 2/32 of an inch (or less – which can be caused, in some cases, by running on an uneven tread, with an inward camber). Uneven wear of the tyre could be due to under-inflation, misalignment, or other problems.

Check Your Tire Pressure For a safer, more fuel-efficient trip, you’ll want to be sure your tires are always inflated to the manufacturer-recommended pressure. Typically, this will be listed in your owner manual, or on a sticker inside your driver door post. Check pressure frequently with a cheap tyre pressure gauge (a stick-type gauge with a penhape point is a personal favourite) – cool morning pressures are best.

Check Your Tires Tire inspection: part of every life Now’s the time to ensure that tires are serviceable. Check for proper tread depth (according to industry specifications) and absence of sidewall cracking, cuts or splitting either through built-in treadwear indicators or the penny test (insert head-down into your tread: if Lincoln’s head can be seen through the tread, it is time to get new tyres). Changing your shoes can make them last longer for a smoother ride, and Les Schwab will help you rotate your tires free of charge, for a safer drive.

Check Your Tires Under-inflation leads to blowouts, which you can avoid by checking tire pressure frequently and, as the airlines recommend, inflate when under the maximum pressure specified in your vehicle placard or in your owner’s manual. To avoid billing your pockets excessively and extend the service life of your tyres, check them at interval for holes, punctures and so on. Also ensure that you rotate your tyres so as to make the tread last equally.