MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AUTO MECHANICS!  We generally are happy when we get into the car and it looks good and drives well!  If you would take about ten minutes every other week and check the essential parts of your car, you could save a lot of time, money and upset.  There are expensive auto repairs you can avoid and make your wallet happy!

***The manual that comes with your car will be a great source for maintenance that needs to be kept up with and fluid levels.

Refill your antifreeze…

Goodness knows we’ve had climate extremes inTexas.  There is also the constant change in driving conditions.  It’s important to always have the right level of antifreeze or you might be putting the cooling of your car at risk.  It’s a good idea to keep a bottle handy in your trunk.  You need to add it when the engine is cool.  Use a funnel as you would when you are adding engine oil so that you won’t splash this toxic, green chemical on other parts of the car.

Check that motor oil…

Oil needs to be checked at the dipstick while the car is turned off and parked on a horizontal plane.  If you notice the oil looking black or deep red, it should be changed by a professional.  Pull the dipstick out and wipe it with a clean rag, then plunge it back into place.  Pull it out again and hold it horizontally for an accurate reading.  You want it to read just under or right at the correct oil-level line or indicator hole — it should never be over this.  Your car works hard and not changing the oil makes sets it up for trouble.  The cost of engine repair is no small thing…

Your battery…

One of the great things about batteries these days is that many of them no longer require much maintenance.  However, you should know where your car battery is located under the hood and check it periodically to make sure it has adequate water and is not leaking acid.  Look for a condition indicator that displays different colors to let you know how it is functioning:  white — charging is necessary, red — add distilled water and blue — everything is okay.

Align those tires…

The most accurate assessment of your tire alignment can be acquired by going to a professional who can make a determination from a computerized tester.  It would not be cost efficient to do this every few weeks, though.  A way to test for alignment is this:  Find a flat street.  Drive the speed limit and leave a hand on the wheel for safety.  Don’t steer it for a few seconds.  If the car veers in one direction and you need to manually keep your car driving straight, you need to make an appointment with a trusted professional for alignment or check for low tire pressure, especially in the front.

Replace the air filter…

To prevent dust and dirt from entering the engine your car has an air filter.  It only takes a few minutes to check it.  It is usually hidden under a plastic casing that can be unsnapped to switch it out.  Your operating manual will have precise instructions to avoid injury to yourself or harm your vehicle.  Make sure the engine is off before replacing it.

It’s hard to give a specific time or mileage figure for replacement because the life of the filter depends on how much pollution it ingests. A filter that lasts 20,000 or even 30,000 miles on a vehicle that’s driven mostly on expressways may last only a month or two in a rural setting where the vehicle is driven frequently on gravel roads. Changing it annually or every 15,000 miles for preventative maintenance may be a good recommendation for the city driver, but not its country cousin.

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Avoid money going down the drain and pat yourself on the back for taking time to do these simple but critical car maintenance steps.

We share this information with you so you can catch problems that are developing or better yet, prevent them from ever happening!  For any concerns or if we can be assistance in maintaining your vehicle or providing professional, timely repairs for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us!  We want to be your source for peace-of-mind solutions when it comes to your transportation!

Tags: auto repair tips, transmission fluid