Want your car to be as reliable as Old Faithful? It starts with taking good care of your car. Whether you take the time to do some of these car maintenance steps yourself, or hire a professional technician to do them for you, here’s everything you should know about keeping your vehicle in good condition no matter how many miles you put on it.
Essential Car Maintenance – Vehicle Care Basics
Everything you need to know about keeping your car in great condition
Check Your Tire Pressure – Greatly reduce the wear and tear on your tires by getting your tire pressure checked and inflating or deflating tires as necessary. This is especially important as temperatures fluctuate (which they do often in Missouri!) throughout the seasons. A digital tire gauge is easy to use, inexpensive, and you can keep it in your glovebox. As soon as your see that tire pressure sensor light go on, pull over to check your tire pressure. Rotating your tires regularly can also extend the life of your tires and keep your car driving safely on the road.
Routine Oil Changes – Some of us are driving less and less as we work from home, however it’s still important to keep up with regular oil changes. Routine check-ins with a mechanic are a great way to have an experienced technician evaluate your car to check for other things like checking your fluids (more on that below) or spotting other car issues that should be addressed before they become a major problem.
Inspect Headlights / Car Lights – No one wants to get pulled over for a burned out headlight or taillight. If a light bulb is out, you’ll want to get it replaced as soon as you can, to avoid getting a ticket. Avoid safety hazards by upgrading any new light bulbs to longer lasting LED bulbs. We also recommend lenses be cleaned to improve road safety, especially on older vehicles.
Regular Car Check-ups with a Technician – Even if you do some car maintenance yourself, it’s smart to take your car into an experienced mechanic to inspect your engine, alternator, and other essential components on your car. Regular tune-ups will help to keep your car in great condition. And, as soon as you see a check engine light come on, you’ll want to get your car to a trained technician as soon as possible, to that the problem can be diagnosed.
You should replace your windshield wipers as needed, changing your engine air filter, and cleaning your car or having your car detailed to make sure your car is comfortable and running smoothly. Finding a reliable car technician can be challenging, which is why people come to our ASE certified technician team.
You can contact us to book your next car care service, or visit our shop in Union, MO to diagnose any car problem you are experiencing. For more car care tips and information, you can also follow us on Facebook here!