Caring for your car can involve some simple tasks that won’t take much time but will go along way toward extending the life and ensuring the safety of your vehicle. For some people, though, their car care habits don’t extend past filling up the gas tank. Experts in Car Service in Broken Arrow offer the following tips for taking care of your car.
One of the best things you can do for your car is to keep the tires properly inflated. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure once a week or so. Your owner’s manual should tell you the proper inflation level. It’s important to keep your tires inflated because low air pressure can lead to a decrease in gas mileage.
When you check the tire pressure, it’s also a good idea to check the tread. The penny test will tell if you the tread has gotten too low. Place a penny with Lincoln’s head down between the treads. If you can’t see the top of the president’s head, you need new tires.
To help your tires last as long as possible, rotate them twice a year. Because the front tires and rear tires have different wear patterns, rotating them will help the tires wear evenly and not wear out too soon.
Change the oil and oil filter on schedule according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Nowadays, the standard advice is to change the oil every 5,000 miles. However, it’s important to take driving conditions into consideration; if your normal driving involves a lot of stops and starts, if you drive in extreme heat, or if you live in a dry and dusty area, you may need to change the oil more frequently.
Car batteries will need to be replaced every five to seven years. You’ll know that your battery is losing power when the engine starts turning over more slowly than before and when the interior lights dim. You can protect your battery by keeping the connections clean of corrosion, but be prepared to replace it at some point.
Other maintenance tips include changing all the fluids according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule, changing the air filter annually and the fuel filter every two years, and flushing and filling the coolant in the air conditioning system. For reliable Car Service Broken Arrow, check out Tate Boys Tire & Service; browse website to learn more about them.