We all have busy lives and it's easy to forget to check on your car and it's needed maintenance when it's something you drive every day. Below are some basic maintenance things you can do on your own in less than five minutes to ensure your vehicle continues to run smoothly and save you costly repairs.
Oil & Coolant Levels
Low levels of either can cause significant engine troubles especially if left long term. You should be checking levels about once a month. However if you have an oil leak you should check more often. It is also good practice to check these levels before long trips. If you’re uncertain how to check oil and coolant levels you should refer to your car’s user manual.
PRO tip: you are also always welcome to stop by Milex/Mr. transmission and we will check your fluid levels for free in most cases.
Tire Pressure
Again, once a month and before road trips is a good time to do this but the weather also plays a key role. If the temperature has changed a lot recently,y that can cause air to expand and contract, affecting the air pressure in your tires. So be sure to check your tire pressure if the weather changes, especially moving into winter months.
Bonus fact: Your tire pressure can affect your gas mileage. All the more reason to check frequently.
Battery
Weather can also play a key role in the life and performance of your battery. This is also a relatively simple check and should be done every six months. You can do this yourself with a multimeter. They usually cost less than $20 USD and are easy to use. You can also just ask your mechanic to check this for you next time you go in for an oil change.
PRO tip: You can stop by any Auto Zone, O'Rielly's or Advance and they are happy to test your battery for you in a couple of minutes.
Headlights, Turn Signals, & Brake Lights
This one requires the buddy system but of course is pretty straight forward. Once a month, grab a friend after lunch and check each other's vehicles in the parking lot. While those lights going out won’t affect your vehicle's performance, making sure all your lights and signals are in working order keeps you safer on the road. Besides who wants a costly ticket over something as simple and inexpensive as a light bulb.
PRO tip: If you simply have no friends ( no judgment) you can simply pull up close to a building and watch the lights reflect of that surface in the evening or early mornings.
Checking these things regularly can extend the life of your vehicle as well as avoid expensive repairs and they only take 5 minutes to check. It’s just about doing so regularly to prevent issues before they happen. Whether you put reminders in your calendar or just make a habit of checking these things when you’re doing other vehicle maintenance, it pays to be consistent with them.
"An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" -(popularized by Ben Franklin 1735 talking about fire safety)