Search Car

Car Care: 6 Effective Steps to Take Care of Your Car From A to Z

ByTsukasa Azuma-December 23, 2020

Car care and maintenance are a responsibility that you have to perform sincerely. Otherwise, you will only be flushing money in the gutter on repairs that could be avoided with regular checking and at a fraction of the cost. Don’t be like the teenagers who often forget to change the oil or wash the car because they have parents to pay the bills! As you are an adult and on your own, learn how to take care of your car to save money down the road.

Effective Tips to Take Care of Your Car

A new model requires less frequent services because some of the annoying servicing needs such as cleaning the body rust, changing breaker points, or replacing spark plugs are related to aging. However, your automobile still deserves some periodic checks, repair work, and clean up jobs. Let’s take a look at 6 ways of taking car care:

Engine Oil

Check the level on a regular basis and keep an eye for a leak. Use a dipstick for the checking and park the vehicle on an even surface at that time to get the correct reading. If the level is low, fill the tank up but don’t overfill. Also, repair immediately should you find any leak.

Check the engine oil and other fluid levels with a dipstick. (photo source: Cardekho)

Transmission Fluid

The cap to the fluid cylinder is sealed in many new models with an automatic gearbox. If your car is not one of them, check the fluid level when the engine is warmed up and running. Find out the level in the break-fluid reservoir and power-steering pump at the same time. Repair if there’s any leak and fill up if any of the tanks are running low.

Tire’s Air Pressure

Each tire should be inflated to the right psi. You have to check the pressure of all the tires including the spare once in a month and before an extended road trip. Use a pencil-type or digital tire-pressure gauge (which won’t cost much) to do the job.

SEE MORE:

>>Change Car Tire in 20 Minutes! Know the Tricks!

>>Know How to Fix a Car Maintenance Schedule

Wash the Body

It’s probably the easiest but a tad tiresome way to take care of your car. However, cleaning is necessary, both the interior and the exterior. If possible, wash the body each week and care to remove the road salt and dirt from the fender wells and undercarriage.

Wash the car at least once a week. (photo source: The Cambridge Times)

Clean the Glasses

The windshield, rear view mirrors, and the headlights need regular cleaning because keeping them dirty will lead to safety hazards. You can use a cleaning fluid to wipe the bug-splattered and dirty windshield and rearview mirrors. On the other hand, toothpaste or baking soda can give temporary headlight fix, but a can of UV-resistant clear coat will give a permanent solution.

Examine the Brakes

If you are pro enough to do this car care job, check it at least two or three times a year, and even more if you drive frequently and longer distances. You will need to remove the wheels and check the condition of the rotors, pads, drums, and other parts. Go to a servicing shop if you are not good with the motor.

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

Comments

Mark Murphy00:47 September 06, 2018
Reply

I really appreciate your tip to check the pressure of your spare tire as well as your other tires. My wife and I recently got our son a new car, and we want to give him some good habits for taking care of his car. I will be sure to tell him that he should try and check the tire pressure of his spare tire!

Rosana Raymond Obaga06:45 November 22, 2017
Reply

Nice to know

Patrick Ferguson03:33 October 11, 2017
Reply

What is best to remove tar or hard to remove stiuff from off the vehicle during wash?

Many times the car wash being used does not remove these things that end up on the car during driving.