Owning a car is an amazing feeling and provides you with an edge in commute. But that also requires a lot of attention to be given to the health of the car. To keep your car in an optimal state, perform car maintenance regularly. It is also not possible for you to always bring your car to the auto maintainers; therefore, you should learn some useful tips that may help you keep your car well maintained.

Car Maintenace Tips

The following blog includes a brief guide on 5 DIY Car Maintenance Tips that you can handle easily. Read the blog through the end to learn some useful tips to keep your car well-maintained.

Switch the Tires and Check Air Pressure

Air pressure of your vehicle’s tires is one of the most critical items in the maintenance checklist. You should always check the air pressure in the tires before leaving.

• Inconsistent air pressure across the tires may trigger some unwanted deadly incidents.
• Make sure that the adjacent tires are at the same air pressure level.
• During hot summer days, keep the pressure low; since the heat from the road, friction increases the tires’ pressure. It is suggested to keep the press 2 points below the normal level, i.e., 30 pascals in most cases.
• Another useful tip for tires is to switch them from time to time. Switch the front tires with the rear ones and vice versa. Since the power is usually in the rear wheels and breaks are installed in the front wheels, the break’s drag causes the tire to wear out quickly. Thus, you should switch the tires regularly (preferably after every 10K KMs).

Always check the Engine oil.

Engine’s performance is mostly dependant on the quality and the level of lubricant in it. Engine oils come in different grades having different levels of viscosity and fluid velocity. Mostly the car manuals include information about the recommended lubricant for that particular car. However, if you do not own the car manual, check with the auto mechanic.

• The gauge in the inlet tells about the current level of the lubricant in the engine. Also, the density/viscosity could also be monitored from the lube on the gauge. If you feel that the oil has become more viscous and turning dark, have it replaced right away.
• If the lube level in the engine falls below the “F” line, fill the lubricant to cover the shortage.
• However, reducing the quantity of oil is not a good sign; you should take the car to the auto mechanic right away.
• Oil filters must be replaced from time to time; to keep the oil clean.

Check the Battery’s Health

Every car has a battery that triggers the self-starter to turn on the engine. Therefore the battery must be kept in an optimal state to stay out of trouble. Some useful check that you can perform on the battery are:

• Check the gravity of the water in the battery using a gravity meter.
• The water level must be kept within the suggested range.
• Battery terminals must be kept clean.
• Clean the battery terminals if there are oxides developed on them. Use sandpaper to clean the terminals.
• The Jumper wire used to connect with the battery terminals must be clipped tightly to keep the terminals from developing carbon oxides.

Clean the Radiator and Cooling System

The cooling system is another critical part of every vehicle. It would help if you always kept an eye on the heat scale of your car. Heating can have very devastating effects on your car. In the worst-case scenario, the gasket can wear out, which may lead to engine seizure. Steps that you can perform to keep your car’s cooling system optimal are:

• Check the radiator for the leakage.
• Keep the coolant in the radiator filled.
• If you find bubbles in the coolant, then report it to the mechanic.
• Also, replace the radiator cap if it is leaked or has its washer torn out.
• Have your car’s radiator flushed after regular intervals and replace the coolant to keep the cooling system in an optimal state.

Install New Brake Pads

It is recommended to replace the brake pads after every 20K KMs. Since the brake pads wear out gradually every time to apply brakes; therefore, it is better to regularly install new brake pads. Switching the wheels regularly also keeps the brake pads in a good state. If the air pressure is not consistent in the adjacent tires, then there is a high possibility for one of the brake pads to wear out earlier than the other one.

• Bear in mind that if you drive the vehicle with worn-out brake pads, it harms the cylinder. The cylinder will start developing scratches, and ultimately you will need to have it replaced.
• So it is better to replace the brake pads after every 20K KMs, and if your car is relatively old, then you should consider replacing it a bit earlier as well.

Also Read: Car Maintenance Checklist

‏Conclusion

Monitoring your car’s healthy regularly keeps you safe from major loss and expenses. If you perform these 5 DIY Car Maintenance checks, then you will stay safe from major expenses. Maintenance is better than repair because it keeps your car in an optimal state over a long period of time. We hope that these 5 hacks will help you in maintaining your car. Provide your feedback in the comments section; you are always more than welcome.

Learn More: Basic Car Maintenance Tips & Services Checklist