| By :
Russel Spinella
Picture a beautifully maintained classic sports car. It is sad when a vehicle becomes useless due to simple auto care negligence, things like not adding oil to the engine after ignoring to check fluid levels. Not following some basic car care tips can equal the end of the engine for an automobile and the end of the story for a vehicle. What would have been a relatively low cost expenditure has become a major expense that may exceed the value of the vehicle. The automobile owner who is not well versed towards essential car care can refer to their owner's manual to find the best maintenance plan for their specific vehicle, but there are general car care tips that apply to all vehicles. Your vehicle will fail to operate properly if you do not care for it, or you could end up with an even worse situation, as in our story above about the classic sports car. These tips are for those who care about maintaining a safe and smooth running car: 1. Check the oil filter and oil levels at least every 3,000 miles. 2. Your auto has various other fluid levels that need to be check on a regular basis. These include fluid levels for transmission, brakes, windshield, power steering, and radiator coolant, also at least every 3,000 miles. 3. A regular check on all hoses and belts should be done and replaced as they are showing cracks or are frayed. 4. Brake maintenance is often neglected without realizing it. Not all brakes make loud noises when they are in need of maintenance. About every six months, the brake system should be checked. 5. Three years from the purchase for a new car, and every three years for older vehicles, the car battery should be tested. Battery condition and connections should be checked to make sure there is no excess corrosion and the battery is secure. 6. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks. If there are leaks, repairs are needed as they can be deadly to those in the car. 7. For a properly running engine, auto tune-ups are essential. 8. The car's heating and air conditioning should be checked yearly for proper functionality. 9. Check and replace washer blades and lights as they wear out or burn out. 10. Check tie rods, struts, and ball joints at least twice a year. 11. Maintain proper air level in tires and apply new tires as needed or when tread becomes no less than 2/32 of an inch (for normal driving conditions, or 4/32 of an inch if you are concerned about wet roads). 12. Rotate tires about every 5,000 miles. Everyone should follow these basic car care tips to assure safety and car performance. To find auto maintenance tips that are specific to your car, remember to refer to your automobile's manual.
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