Media post: 4 Essential Car Maintenance Tips
A car is one of the most essential technologies of modern living. For many people, they would be unable to go to work, drop their kids off at school, or see their family without their ever-faithful four-wheeled steed. That is why when it comes to maintenance, it’s important your car is kept in tip-top shape. If your car isn’t properly maintained, it can cause faults that could possibly be fatal. Here are 4 things to regularly check up on when you own a car to make sure it always runs smoothly.
1. Windshield Cracks and Chips
A pro tip from the repair technicians at North Auto Glass, a new auto glass repair franchise in Canada: always take your vehicle in if the windshield has cracks or chips. Whilst a chip or a crack on a windscreen may look small, it can be a serious safety hazard if left unchecked. Driving with a cracked windshield means your vision may be impaired, and you are more likely to get into an accident. This is even more of an issue as in the event of a crash. A chip in your windshield means it is far less stable and more likely to pop out. In an accident, this could lead to the driver or passengers being ejected through the front. Luckily there are plenty of outlets that service windshields. If you’ve got a chip or crack, take your car in ASAP. If you have a broken or cracked glass on your car, Glass By Tony offers auto glass repair so that you can fix or replace the glass easily, read more about them here.
2. Fluid Levels
There are various mechanisms at work in your car, and most are run by various types of fluid. Maintaining proper fluid levels is essential for your car to run smoothly. The first and most obvious to check would be your oil. Make sure your oil level is high enough. This helps you get an idea of whether your car is running smoothly or even if it has an oil leak. Your power steering fluid is also important to check. If this fails, it will be a lot harder to control your car. The steering wheel might feel jerky or jumpy if it has low power steering fluid levels. Checking your power steering fluid also can help reduce the chance of an accident resulting from these symptoms. In winters, it is also important to make sure your antifreeze/coolant is topped up. This keeps your car running on cold weather. Lastly, the transmission fluid. This is an essential thing to make sure everything is working correctly. If your transmission fluid is dirty or not topped up, it could mean your car could have trouble changing gears. This can lead to a potentially fatal incident while you’re on the road.
3. Tire Pressure and Tread
Tires are important, but often overlooked, features to check when servicing your car. When checking the tires, examine both the pressure and the tread. Making sure your tires are properly inflated with the correct air pressure is a must. If they are over-inflated, this can cause it to blow out, which can lead to an accident. Also, if your tires aren’t properly inflated, it can cause your car to become less fuel-efficient. You can easily measure your tire pressure with a pressure gauge available in most automotive shops. It’s also important you check your tire tread. Worn tread means less traction on the road. In wet and slippery conditions, this could lead to losing control of the vehicle.
4. Brake Pads
Cars are only as safe as their brakes. If you can’t make your car stop, then something else will stop it for you. If your car squeals every time you brake, your brake pads are due for a change. If the pads have severely worn away, they could fail at an essential moment when you need them most. Even if they’ve only worn away slightly, it will greatly affect your brake time and could still cause an accident.
Cover Your CarIf you don’t have a garage to store your car in, you’ll want to invest in a good car cover. Why? There are a few reasons. First, it will protect your car from the elements. Sun, wind, and rain can all cause damage to your car’s paint job and exterior. Second, an outdoor cover will protect your car from birds. No one likes finding bird droppings on their car! Third, a car cover will deter criminals from breaking into your car. If they can’t see what’s inside, they’re less likely to try to break in. Finally, a car cover will keep your car clean. Dust and dirt will settle on the cover instead of on your car’s surface. So if you want to keep your car looking its best, be sure to invest in a good car cover.
