7 Basic Car Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Car Running Longer

No matter how old your car is, you can keep it running for longer by following basic car maintenance tips. We all know how important it is to have reliable transportation. And while it would be great if we could all have brand new vehicles, that isn’t always possible. However, with regular maintenance, you could make sure your current vehicle stays working and keeps you from spending your money on a new car.

How Do You Keep Your Car Running Longer?

Taking care of your motor vehicle isn’t as challenging as it might seem. The only thing you need to do is stay disciplined with the basics, and that car will not only run longer, but also help you prioritize your savings by not requiring you to spend any extra on it. And to help you, there are plenty of tips you can easily follow. In fact, just check out these seven basic car maintenance tips that’ll help you to maximize your car’s lifespan and keep it running safely for as long as possible.

1. Wash Your Car Regularly

You might be surprised to know that some of the most basic car maintenance tips we can give you have nothing to do with any of the vehicle’s mechanical parts. To take good care of your car, start on the outside by giving it a regular wash. Washing your car will remove all the buildup of dirt and debris. That’s crucial to do, as some of those can become corrosive. If left for too long, they can cause your car’s exterior, underside, and frame to rust.

2. Inspect And Replace All Fluids

Now to some basic car maintenance tips that you’ve likely heard many times before. For starters, you’ll want to check and replace all your car’s fluids. Each fluid on this list plays a crucial role in keeping your car running optimally. So if they get dirty or run low, your vehicle’s components can wear out or suffer internal damage. Checking and topping up those fluids regularly will prevent that from happening. The fluids you need to monitor include the following:

• Engine oil
• Coolant
• Lubricants
• Transmission fluid
• Windscreen washer fluid

3. Change Your Air Filters

Your car also has air filters that you’ll want to change approximately every 12,000 miles. One filter cleans the air entering your engine, while the other is for the air you breathe in the cabin. The air filter in your engine makes sure the air that helps the fuel ignite remains clear of particles that can cause long-term damage. The air filter in your cabin protects you from dust particles, mold spores, and allergens. So, you can obviously see why it is important to keep these filters clean.

4. Replace Your Oil Filters

Aside from air filters, your car also has oil filters that play a similar role. Instead of these filters filtering the air, though, they remove impurities and debris from the oil that circulates in your engine. And the cleaner your oil filter remains, the longer you can go without changing your oil. However, even though they do this, it is a good idea to replace these filters when you change your engine oil. Changing them at the same time ensures that you don’t forget either of them.

5. Tire Alignments, Rotations, And Balancing

Your vehicle makes contact with the road underneath through its tires. Those parts last a pretty long time as long as you stick to the basic car maintenance tips that apply to them. This includes doing things like performing alignments, rotations, and balancing the tires every 6-12 months. Doing so will help your tires perform optimally, maintaining their grip on the road. And making sure your tires are in good shape is vital to protect you and your passengers while on the road.

6. Replace Your Tires

Of course, at some point, you’ll still have to replace your tires entirely. Just like anything, your tires won’t last you forever. You should start changing your tires when the tire treads are worn down below their safety indicators. When that happens, it’s best to replace the tires altogether. Also, it helps to replace all four simultaneously, so you can expect them to wear out at the same time in the future.

7. Don’t Skimp On Maintenance Or Repairs

If you truly want to keep your car running for longer, here’s the most important tip to remember: never skimp on car maintenance or repairs. Sadly, a lot of people choose to spend less on maintenance and repairs just to keep their cars running for the short term. But doing that just means paying for lower-quality parts and products. Instead, you should always try to pay for the best parts, fluids, and other necessary auto products.

Once Your Car Is Taken Care Of, You Can Look Into Getting Title Loans!

Once you have these basic car maintenance tips down, you’ll realize just how many ways your own vehicle can actually make you money! One of those ways is through title loans from us at Cash Cow. Title loans use your vehicle’s lien-free title that is in your name as collateral for a lump sum of money. And we use your car’s condition to help determine how much money we can lend you. If you want to learn more about this loan, fill out the online form on our website!

Start Maintaining Your Vehicle Today

Following these basic car maintenance tips to the tee can be the difference between a car that breaks down versus a car that is reliable and safe. And as we said in the beginning, it can be simple to start maintaining your vehicle properly. And once your car is in great working condition, you can then use it for title loans to help you handle your emergency expenses! Again, if you want to learn more, just go to the Cash Cow website and fill out the online form.

 

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.