6 Car Care Procedures That Are Often Overlooked
When you take care of your car, it will not only last longer but also perform better. Proper maintenance also helps you save on repair costs, because you’ll be able to stop a problem before it even happens.
The thing is, many car care procedures often get overlooked. Usually, these are for small parts or those that don’t have a more frequent maintenance schedule. Still, if your car is going to function at its best, you need to ensure that every single part is taken care of properly and on time.
To help you keep track, here’s a quick list of some of the most commonly overlooked car maintenance procedures:
Changing the Engine Air Filter
Some car owners—particularly those with limited car repair or maintenance experience—may only know about the air filter for the cab. Thus, they miss out on replacing the air filter for the engine.
The engine’s air filter ensures that the air that mixes with the fuel is as clean as possible. This way, the fuel burns more efficiently and the engine reaches its full performance potential.
Aside from poor performance, a dirty engine air filter can also cause damage to the inside of your engine. Thus, it’s best to replace the filter before it gets caked with dirt and oil. Ideally, this would be between 25,000 and 50,000 kilometres but you may have to do it more frequently if you often drive on dusty roads.
Make sure to buy your replacement air filters and other engine components from a reliable auto supply store. This ensures the durability and quality of the components you buy.
Rotating the Tyres
You probably already know that you should replace your tyres before the treads get worn down to ensure safety. However, you might forget or not realise that rotating them is just as crucial.
Rotating the tyres is necessary in order to ensure even wear. This is because, depending on the tyre’s location, one or two will wear out more quickly than the others. For example, if your vehicle has a rear-wheel-drive transmission, the two rear tyres will go “bald” faster than the two front ones.
By rotating your tyres, they will wear out in sets. This is better because you’ll replace them all at once; it’s also easier to keep track of the tyres’ lifespan if they’re installed at the same time.
The ideal schedule for rotating your tyres is every six months. When you do so, make sure to inspect the tread depth. Don’t forget to include the spare tyre in the rotation, as well.
Aligning the Wheels
Another car maintenance procedure that often gets overlooked is wheel alignment. Most of the time, car owners only bother to check the alignment once they notice problems with handling and steering. However, experiencing these issues can mean that the improper alignment may have already caused bigger problems.
To prevent premature tyre wear and erratic steering, among many other issues, make sure to have the wheel alignment of your car checked regularly. If they’re misaligned, have them fixed ASAP. With perfectly aligned wheels, you can be sure that your wheels are always pointing towards the right direction.
Have your wheels aligned every year. However, if you often drive on uneven terrain, you may want to have your alignment checked more frequently.
Checking the Battery Terminals
Do you only check your car’s battery when it gets discharged and it’s time to replace it? This is definitely not a good practice. The best way to ensure that you get the most of your car’s battery is to regularly inspect it, particularly the terminals.
Make sure that the cable’s connections are tight and terminals are clean. If there are any residues surrounding the terminals, it’s time for a cleaning. You can do this yourself with a cleaning brush, or you can also bring your car to your trusted mechanic.
Inspecting the Lights’ Illumination Quality
If your lights are working just fine then there’s no reason to inspect them, right? Definitely not! You have to perform regular checks to make sure that they’re bright enough.
Sometimes, the problem is with the bulbs themselves. Sometimes, the casings may need to be cleaned. In any case, you should always make sure that your car’s lights are producing enough illumination. This is particularly important for the headlights, brake lights, and tail lights. If there are any problems at all, make sure to address them ASAP.
Replacing the Windshield Wipers
Car owners often miss checking their windshield wipers’ condition because they’re only used when it rains. The problem with this is that the rubber could already be cracked or broken without you realising it until the next heavy downpour.
There are telltale signs that your windshield wipers already need to be replaced. These include squeaking sounds and the reduced capability of clearing water from the windshield.
Make sure to inspect the wipers for cracks and other kinds of damage every six months. You should also check them after extreme temperature changes, since these can also damage the rubber.
Remember: if you take care of your car, it will take care of you. Don’t forget these car care procedures so that you’ll always have safe and comfortable drives.