What Are Some Basic Maintenance Tips For A New Car Owner?

It takes a lot of effort to keep your car in good condition, may it be new or used already. Proper maintenance is needed to prevent breakdowns and ensure its reliability. More importantly, it will extend the life of your car while allowing you to drive it at its highest performance.

But contemporary cars have a reassuring quality that requires significantly less frequent services to keep them functioning well. So what are some basic maintenance tips for a new car owner? In this guide, you will find out, so just read on!

Basic Maintenance Tips

It’s not easy to have a new car. You also have to keep up with the effort of maintaining it. Well, here are some basic maintenance tips for a new car owner:

1. Drive Better

Avoid accelerating the engine during start-up because this instantly contributes to its wear. Instead, slowly accelerate as you begin to drive. When on red lights, give your engine time to rest by shifting it to neutral mode.

The moment you become car considerate, you are also saving gas and money since you will no longer spend much on frequent repairs. This will be done by avoiding hard shifting, fast takeoff, sharp turns, quick braking, and high speeding over bumps.

2. Wash the Car Weekly
   

   

Frequent washing will keep your car clean and shiny as well as prevent corrosion. So try to wash your car at least once a week. Do not just wash the body, but remember to clean its interior too. Vacuum it thoroughly and use a damp cloth to wipe its lenses.

Hose the fender wells and undercarriage to get rid of road dirt and salt when necessary. Then, wax the finish to protect its paint as it slows down oxidation. Not only that, but it also creates a barrier against pollution and bird droppings.

3. Change the Engine and Air Filter Regularly

Do it regularly. At least once a month if possible because frequent oil changes flush metal particles and abrasive dirt out of the engine, therefore promoting longer life. When you notice a leak of oil, find and fix it immediately. In such a case, it is also advisable that you change it more often.

It is also important to constantly inspect the air filters and change them if needed, considering that there could be arising car problems if they are loose or clogged. The air filters block pollen, dust, and other contaminants, thus keeping your engine healthy.

When the air filter is dirty, it can reduce the airflow and rob your car’s power. As such, its fuel economy and performance will also be reduced. Replacing air filters is recommended per 12,000 miles.

4. Clean the Engine
   

   

A clean engine will run cool, so it is always a good idea to wash your car’s engine every year. Doing so will also let you service its components and spot leaks easily.

Likewise, it is also essential to clean the exterior of the engine. Because, if the exterior is not properly cleaned, the clean interior of the engine might get damaged.

If you prefer to clean it by yourself, bear in mind that you should protect its sensitive parts such as the distributor, air intake, and electrical components before getting started.

5. Inspect the Tires

   

Check the air pressure of the tire regularly. It is ideal to do this monthly or before going on a long road trip. You may use a tire-pressure gauge to accurately measure the inflation pressure of the tires, including the spare. Do this before the car has been driven off.

See to it that they are inflated accordingly based on the specified pressure which you can find in the user manual. Also, inspect it carefully to find uneven wear as this may signify wheel realignment. Aside from that, it may also mean that there is internal tire damage or a bent wheel.

Make it a habit to have your wheel alignment inspected every 30,000 miles. Because if it is improperly aligned, your tires’ useful life will be reduced and at the same time it will cause steering wheel problems.

When you notice that your steering wheel is a bit stiffer than usual, check your wheel alignment.

6. Change the Spark Plugs

Spark plugs can affect the car engine’s efficiency. They are responsible for igniting the air mixture and gas which is the source of your vehicle’s power. Therefore, when they are not functioning properly, the engine cannot function at its optimum capacity.

For that reason, it is extremely vital to get a professional and have your spark plugs checked. If found faulty, such plugs should be replaced to maintain your car engine’s high performance and good fuel economy.

7. Check the Battery

Maintaining your car’s battery is the key to keep it running as it is responsible for providing electrical current for the engine, starter, and other electronic accessories of the vehicle.

Furthermore, high temperatures can affect performance. So it is necessary to test your battery to ensure that it will be able to perform how it has to.

Even if the manufacturer claims a maintenance-free battery, it is still ideal to check the battery regularly to prolong its life. Inspect the cables and terminals of the battery to ensure that they are attached properly.

Also, make sure that they are free from corrosion. Look out for any sign of damage such as bulges or cracks because this would mean that the batteries are needed to be replaced already. If it has removable caps, inspect the fluid levels at a regular time interval.

Conclusion

To ensure that you will be safe to go off-road, always allot some of your time to perform the aforementioned maintenance tips. These are just a few among the plenty of other ways to take care of your new car and extend its life.

Hopefully, you are now aware of what are some basic maintenance tips for a new car owner. Thank you for reading and always be safe on the road.