Your car is a major investment which means it deserves proper maintenance and care. Many accidents on the roadways are due to lack of preventive vehicle maintenance on the part of the owner. It is easy to perform many routine checks on your car, and you do not have to be a world class mechanic to handle them yourself.

Take the time to see to the maintenance of your vehicle. As you do, you’ll see that it’s life is extended. You will also get better gas mileage, your tires will last much longer, and you will avoid many issues that could have popped up. The small issues will come to your attention, and they won’t have a chance to develop into big issues.

For your convenience, where are a few tips that will help you to keep your car in top shape!

There are some basics that you can start with. First of all, read the vehicle’s manual and make sure that you follow all of the directions, especially with tune-ups and oil changes.

Oil and oil filters need to be changed periodically. Some cars require that these be changed out every 3000 miles while some other manuals will allow longer times between these changes.

Checking the fluid levels should be a task that you perform weekly. Brakes, oil, transmission, power steering, radiator and overflow tank all need to be monitored to make sure that the proper levels are being maintained. You should also make it a habit to check the level of cleaning solution available for use on your windshield. It only takes a few minutes to do these checks and top off any fluids.

Tires should be checked at least once a month but it is best to check the inflation pressures once a week. If you are driving around with tires that are under-inflated you are losing valuable fuel efficiency.

Also check that tread! Make sure there’s nothing sticking out of it, and definitely make sure you don’t have any leaks. Hubcap tightness is also very important, right along with the tightness of the lug nuts. You don’t want a tire flying off on the highway do you?

Tune ups will keep your car running as best it can. You may need to replace fuel injectors, spark plugs, or many other things. If you have inefficient parts, your overall gas mileage could be reduced!

One that many people do not think of is chassis lubrication. Basically this will keep the suspension functioning properly. Check to see if your shop offers this type of service, or see if you can do it on your own.

Your battery is a very important part of your vehicle, so make sure that you pay it mind. This means inspecting the posts for corrosion, and making sure the leads are held on tightly. This will keep the battery in decent condition for the foreseeable future

Make sure that you swap out your wiper blades annually, and make sure each month that they are not cracked. You should also apply a coat of Rain-X to your windshield every two weeks.

Do not forget to check your headlights, turn signals and tail lights at least once a week to make certain that there are no burned out bulbs. This is a preventive measure that can help you avoid accidents on the road.

If you will follow these tips concerning car maintenance you will soon notice that the checks become second nature. A little pro-active care for your car can keep your vehicle looking better, performing better, and you will also be able to keep it on the road longer.

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