Car Maintenance Tips
This article is for car owners that are looking for some good car maintenance tips. It should be a good starting place for planning your own car maintenance activities.
The first item that will be covered is a device called a timing belt. If your car happens to have a timing chain, then you can skip this section, as timing chains do not need to be replaced. A timing belt is made of rubber and is used to control the timing and motion of the car’s engine. Since rubber is a natural material, it is subject to wear and tear, and therefore must be replaced every so often to avoid major difficulties. The challenge is that the timing belt runs through many portions of the engine, making the replacement a long activity. For most cars, the engine may need to be pulled apart to complete the timing belt replacement. Each car make uses a different schedule for maintaining the timing belt, but many car manuals recommend changing it at the 60,000 mile mark, or 100,000 kilometers. Once again, it is of utmost importance to stick with this maintenance schedule, as the failure of your timing belt can mean the end of your car engine. This is a complicated replacement item, so it is best to seek the service of a repair shop to do this task.
A more regular car maintenance tip deals with changing the oil in your engine. You will get best results by doing this change on a 3000 mile cycle, or every 5000 kilometers. By changing the oil regularly, you are getting rid of waste products that build up in the cylinders and hinder proper engine operation. If you do not change your oil regularly, you could see early breakdowns which will be very costly to repair. You can do oil changes in your garage or driveway, and buying oil by the case can keep your costs below $20 per change. The oil filter needs to be replaced as well, but you can do this on every second oil change. These filters can be purchased at your local auto parts store for a nominal price, which varies according to the type and model of car.
Keeping your tires in good condition is a key car maintenance tip. Proper inflation will keep your tires in good shape and improve gas mileage. Keep an eye on the condition of your tires, looking for signs of uneven wear as well as punctures. Depending on the types of roads you drive on and the model of tire that you are using, you would be wise to replace your tires every two to three years, more frequently if you drive a lot of miles each year.
Every car owner wants to keep their car running safely and in great condition. Follow these car maintenance tips and you will have a well running car!
Continue to the next car maintenance article:
General Car Maintenance
