Negligence is among the major causes of vehicular accidents. In fact, certain percentage of all motor fatalities is clearly caused by automotive maintenance neglect. Hence, all vehicle drivers are advised to keep their ride in near-perfect shape. Regular maintenance is a crucial part of responsible vehicle ownership as this is an effective way to ensure quality performance and safety on the road.
Here are some inexpensive and basic preventive checks that will ensure safety and long service life of the vehicle.
· Always refer to your owner’s manual. Ideally, you need to replace your stock oil filter every 3, 000 – 4, 000 miles.
· Check the fluids including the brake, power steering, transmission/transaxle, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze. They play an important role in the safety and performance of your vehicle.
· Have the tire inflation checked. Note that under-inflated tires can result in a loss of fuel efficiency. Tires should be checked once a month. This is the least expensive form of preventive and safety maintenance.
· Keep the engine tuned. Expect at least 30% reduction in fuel efficiency with a fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector.
· Lubricate the chassis whenever necessary. This is to stretch out the life of the moving components of the vehicle’s suspension system.
· To prevent corrosion, check and clean the battery cables and posts.
· Always check the components of the lighting and signaling system. These are the headlights, tail lights, and brake lights. Your safety especially at night greatly depends on them.
· Inspect the windshield washer blades for crack, tear and windshield contact. Replace them approximately annually or sooner if streaking begins.
· Check the engine belts on a regular basis. Faulty belts adversely impact engine operation. Check out for cracks and missing sections or segments.
· Check the air filtration as frequent as possible or every other oil change for clogging or damage. This is to ensure good engine performance.
Being aware of the basic automotive maintenance helps make your vehicle perform at its best condition for a long period of time. So be more than just a driver. Be the mechanic of your precious ride as well.
