The average American keeps their cars for 12 years, and savvy owners can make the most of their vehicle’s resale value by keeping up with preventative maintenance. That way, they spend less time at the mechanic and more money in their pocket.
What are the most important parts of a car service?
A few standard tasks can make your car last longer and help it run more smoothly. The most obvious is getting an oil change every 5,000 miles (or the recommended interval in your owner’s manual). But there are many other simple things you can do, even if you’re not a mechanical whiz. www.EngineRevUp.com – Master Your Car Maintenance
For example, make sure your car’s headlights are working and properly positioned – it will save you the expense of a ticket as well as the risk of being struck by another vehicle. And while you’re at it, give all the hoses under your hood a quick visual inspection. With the engine cool and off, squeeze hoses to see if they’re firm or soft. If they’re extremely soft or make a crunching sound, they may be in need of replacement.
Also, drive more conservatively and you’ll reduce wear on your brakes, transmission, and drivetrain. Accelerate slowly at start-up, and don’t race the engine during initial operation. The heaviest workload on an engine occurs during the first 10 to 20 minutes of operation.