Normally people take pride in owning a reliable and attractive cars but they do not know how to deal with the maintenance. The key to keep the vehicle dependable is a normal maintenance regimen. Here I would like to write some interesting and useful tips to maintain your car.

Car Wash

The car wash is a best way to keep the vehicle clean when you are in a hurry but personal hands on time is also necessary to protect the paint and to check parts and fluids.

Battery Water

Always check battery water of your car after one week on regular basis. This will enhance the life of your battery.

Belts & Hoses

Before going on a long trip or after every 50,000 miles of use, check all the engine’s accessory belts.Inspect the engine and look at the belt to see if there is visible demage, abnormal wear or small hairline cracks.Replace the belt that shows signs of wear. Even if a belt appears to be in good condition, it should be replaced every 50,000 miles as preventive measures.

Like belts, radiator and heater hoses are also made of rubber. Their condition should be checked periodically. Both the upper and lower radiator hoses can rupture from internal pressure and age without the driver knowing it. When it happens, the coolant spews out, and the engine can be seized from excessive heat buildup.

Brakes

The vehicle’s most critical system is its brakes. Many people never look at the master cylinder until they have brake failure. In addition to the checking fluid level, look for leaks where the brake lines attach to the master cylinder and where the master cylinder bolts to the power booster.If you see signs of brake fluid, tighten the fittings using a line wrench on brake line nuts to prevent against rounding off their shoulders.If the master cylinder is leaking at the rear, replace it.

Lubrication

Adequate lubrication is one of the key factors in keeping your engine running well.The fluid level should be checked weekly and the oil should be changed frequently every 5000 kilometer to keep it clean.

Degreasers

Your engine compartment can be kept as good as the day you purchased the car by cleaning it once a month. Degreasing can be done when you wash the car.

Wash & Polish

New vehicles are painted with urethane products and most factories use two and three stage paints.As a result, it is important to use car care products that are designed for these finishes.Carefully read the label prior to buying the wax.

Glass Care

Dirty glass deflects the light and can make visibility dangerous at best.
Many products do an excellent job of washing your windshield and its always advisble to wipe the product off with a paper towel that does not leave lint or steaks.Consider cleaning your windshield every morning.

Wipers & Washers

The windshield wipers and washers are obviously very important parts of your car and they need periodic maintenance.Windshield wiper blades should be replaced once a year to maintain a perfect seal against the glass.When replacing wiper blades, make sure that the refills are the exact same length as the OE ones.

The windshield washer reservoir should also be checked and filled with a cleaning product, not just water.Periodically use the washers to make sure they are functioning properly.

Lights

Periodically check the lights to make sure they are all working.Turn on your emergency flasher and see if all four lights flash.Then individually try the right and left turn signal to make sure they are working front and rear.Ask a friend to apply the brakes to see if the brake lights are functioning.If any of the lights are not working replace the bulb.

Interior

The interior of your car is not a storage area for empty cans and old french fries.It should be clean and well maintained.The carpets should be vaccumed.

Joints

All moving parts should be inspected and lubricated after every few months.Areas to be particularly concerned with are driveshaft u joints and in front wheel drive cars halfshafs and cv joints. If u use a quick lube placefor oil changes ask to have these joints inspected and lubed in conjuction with the oil change.Kindly check that wheel bearings are inspected and repacked every 20,000 miles and all under car fuel lines and brake lines looked at as well.

Tire Pressure

Most people are well aware that tire failures can be fatal. With this in mind, get in the habit of visually inspected daily for sidewall bulges and checking air pressure at every gas stop.After all, a tire pressure guage is a lot cheaper than a new set of tires.
Proper inflation pressure makes tires last longer, and it also improves the vehicle fuel economy.

Wheels

Now a days ,almost all new vehicles are factory equipped with alloy wheels. Some of these wheels have a natural finish, some have a natural finish with a clear coating and some are poedercoated.Eventually all get caked with disc brake dust and road grime.

Clear coated wheels should be cleaned with a different cleaner than natural finish alloys.Check with your manufacturer for your specific wheel type and select the appropriate product.

Keep your car cool

Coolant absorbs heat from the engine and helps prevent corrosion from clogging up the cooling system.Check its level periodically and have it changed as recommended by your owner’s manual.