Basic Tips for Maintaining Your Vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle is essential to ensure it runs smoothly on the road. For those who don't spend much time under the hood, car maintenance can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be.

Basic car maintenance tips can help you keep your car in tip-top condition, even if it's new to the garage.

Next, we show you some of the essential tips that you must take into account to guarantee the good condition of your car.

1.- Check your tire pressure

“Over-inflated” tires produce a less effective contact patch on the trails, reducing ride quality and limiting dry grip.

Under-inflated tires produce “wet” handling, work the engine harder (use more fuel), and over-flex the sidewall of the tire, which can lead to blowouts.

The proper tire pressure is printed on your sidewall; make sure yours are properly inflated for a smooth run on the road.

2.- Keep your attention on not overheating the engine

An overheating engine can leave you stranded with a large repair bill.

The best way to avoid an overheated engine is to always have the radiator filled with coolant, which is usually green in color (some come in yellow). Its function is to reduce the risk of freezing in cold climates and boiling in hot climates. .

More importantly, coolant helps reduce corrosion, which is one of the main causes of radiator plugging and leaking.

To check for the latter, run your engine for a few minutes (with the cap on) and have it repaired or replaced if it leaks.

To flush the radiator if the fluid is dirty, use a garden hose to circulate water through it (never remove the cap on a hot radiator) with the drain plug removed.

3.- Keep the engine well oiled

You will need to check the recommended oil for your car, the engine oil capacity and the type of filter required before you begin changing the oil and filter.

The new oil keeps the engine turning freely, maximizing its efficiency and longevity.

Lack of oil and/or dirty oil increases the risk of wear and overheating, shortening the life of the engine.

Not all cars have an easily accessible oil filter, so if you're not sure, ask your service advisor.

4.- Cover your car and protect it

Cloth seats usually don't need anything more than a vacuum to keep them clean.

On the other hand, just like floor mats, seat covers will help protect the value of your car.

If your seat has built-in airbags, make sure you get a matching cover.