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Every two weeks or 3,000 miles
1. Read and follow your car manual
2. Check engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant.
Once in a month or 1,000 miles
1. Check tire pressure - with tire gauge.
2. Check transmission fluid.
3. Check brake fluid.
4. Wax car (to protect finish).
5. Check belts and hoses.
Every three months or 3,000 miles
1. Change oil and oil filter
2. Lubricate chassis.
3. Check transmission fluid & change if necessary
4. Check all belts on engine (fan belts) frayed or cracked belts.
Every six months or 6,000 miles
1. Change oil and filter
2. Inspect suspension.
3. Rotate tires.
Every year or 12,000 miles
1. Flush radiator, replace anti-freeze, check air conditioning system.
2. Replace air filters.
3. Lubricate chassis.
Every two years or 24,000 miles
1. Replace spark plugs (30,000 miles average suggested for unleaded gas) and PC valve
2. Change automatic transmission fluid, filter and pan gasket.
3. Inspect brake linings.
Every three years or 30,000 miles
1. Check and test ignition wires (replace if needed).
2. Test cooling system and heating hoses (replace if needed).
3. Check engine drive belts (replace if needed).
4. Replace fluid in differential and manual transmission.
Lifetime tips for your car
1. Must check brake shoes (replace if needed).
2. If you have a major repair to do, it's wise to get at least.
3 estimates, if possible, before you decide.
4. Learn to do some routine maintenance on your car yourself. Learn how to check your own oil, transmission fluid, tire pressure and coolant, etc.
5. If you find a good mechanic who you can trust, stick with him even if his prices are a bit higher - all things being equal. You'll always save time, money and aggravation in the long run.
6. Don't race or gun your engine when you start it up. Accelerate slowly and smoothly when your engine is cold.
7. Avoid burning rubber. It places excessive wear on the transmission, rear end, not to mention your tires.
8. A garaged car lasts longer. A car port is next best, and a car cover is a distant third.
9. Avoid jackrabbit starts and stops. Stop and accelerate gradually.
10. Avoid tailgating, tire squealing turns, flying over speed bumps, pot holes and revving your engine.
11. When possible, avoid driving your car during rush hour stop and go traffic periods.
12. Keep front-end aligned, for longer tire life and better gas mileage.
13. Make sure you get promised repairs in writing including how much it will cost.
14. Avoid car dealers except to have highly specialized repairs done that can't be done properly anywhere else.
15. It's hard to be overcharged when you get three estimates before you have the work done.
16. Beware! Cheapest is not always the best. Normally, the best mechanics with the best equipment and training cost more.
17. Often mechanics that charge extremely low prices have inferior or out-dated equipment, little to no formal training or are under-insured.
18. Complex electrical problems are so involved that serious electrical work should be done in an "Auto Electric" shop. They have the equipment, tool and training to do the job more efficiently than the average mechanic.
19. If your car has "Cruise Control" use it. Using cruise control will save you 5% to 10% of a gallon of gas on long trips.
20. Avoid constantly pressing and releasing the accelerator when driving. This practise not only wastes fuel, but it puts excessive wear on the drive train of your car.
21. Don't ride your brake pedal, this wears out your brake linings pre-maturely, and wastes fuel.
22. Driving with your windows all the way down at higher speeds, will waste 10% more gallons of gasoline than driving with them closed.
23. Research by a major car manufacturer has revealed that neglect of proper routine maintenance is the number one reason for the enormous increase in car repairs being required.
24. When purchasing or changing tires, make sure you have them spin balanced.
25. Avoid cleaning your windshield with a dry rag or towel. Always dampen with water or some other cleaning liquid. Dry towels grind and scratch your windshield hindering your visibility.
26. Avoid turning on the car air-conditioning while running at highway speeds as this tends to put an immediate heavy load on your compressor and clutch. This could cause excessive wear and tear on these components. Instead turn your air conditioner on at car speeds below 25 to 30 m.p.h. This helps to preserve your expensive compressor.
27. Try to avoid running your car with the tank low on gas. Keeping a low tank of gas increases the chance of dirt, water/moisture and rust forming in your fuel system. Keeping a full tank decreases the chance of dirt and other foreign matter forming in your fuel system.
28. Tires driven at 70 m.p.h. wear out almost twice as fast as cars that go 50 m.p.h.
29. Remember, the top three causes of car breakdowns while on the road are
(a) running out of gas (b) tire troubles (c) cooling system problems (overheating)
30. To choose the right repair shop for you, it's wise to have a small or minor maintenance or repair job done first to see how the repair shop and mechanic treat you and your car.
31. Give detailed description of your car's problem when you take it in for repairs. The more you can describe what your car is doing or not doing (thumping, squealing, clacking sound, etc.) the faster and less it will cost for your mechanic to fix it.
32. When in doubt about the cost of a repair or a mechanic's honesty get a second opinion. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from being ripped-off until you can find a permanent repair shop.
33. Regular oil changes are the most important thing you can do to protect your engine and make it last longer.
34. If you have a manual transmission, downshift to slow your car down instead of using your brakes. This will save wear and tear on your braking system.
35. Each time you have your engine oil checked, have your transmission fluid checked also.
36. Protect your car's interior and make it last longer - park your car in the shade or place a windshield guard or cover in the windshield.
37. If you spill something inside your car, clean it up immediately before it dries. Delaying even 30 minutes can sometimes leave a permanent stain or spot. NOTE: To better protect your car seats have them treated with scotchguard.
By following proper preventative maintenance you can often double your car's useful life, and spend less time visiting your local mechanic.
2 comments:
Dear plz tell me how to remove soda stains from ma sweety car interior.
Try to use a mixture of baking soda & water, nothing else!
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