5 Car Maintenance Tips You Still Probably Don’t Know
Posted by admin at 4 November 2021, at 07 : 53 AM
Your vehicle is one of your most valuable assets, but are you actually looking after it the way you should be? In some cases, you might not be. You may think you understand what you need to do to maintain your vehicle, but in many cases drivers don’t. They either miss critical maintenance tasks or they simply don’t know they exist.
In this post, we take a look at some car maintenance tips you still probably don’t know. Read on to learn more.
Tip 1: Read The Owner’s Manual
When you buy a new washing machine, the first thing you do is read the owner’s manual. It tells you what all the buttons and settings mean so that you can adjust cycles to protect your clothes. Going through all the instructions and details is almost instinctive.
However, when people buy new cars, they rarely check the manual. Instead, they convince themselves that they know how their vehicles work, even though they are substantially more complex than washing machines.
Always read the owner’s manual. When you do, you’ll discover all sorts of things you didn’t know about your vehicle, and you’ll be in a better position to keep it in good condition.
Tip 2: Keep Your Revs In The 3,000 RPM Range
Keeping your revs in the 3,000 RPM range might sound a little odd, but there are engineering reasons why you should aim for this level at all times. Piston rings need to interlock with cylinders snugly to maintain proper engine performance. When revs increase above around 3,000 RPM, this process doesn’t occur as efficiently. And when you go about around 5,000 RPM, damage accumulates more rapidly.
Always keep your revs in the low part of the range (unless, of course, you’re a racer).
Tip 3: Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle
While cars weigh a lot and manufacturers engineer them to be strong, you can still overload them. Putting down the seats and piling a bunch of bricks in the back will exceed the tolerance of the suspension system, leading to damage and, perhaps, even failure.
Again, check the manual to see how much internal weight manufacturers engineered your vehicle to bear. Don’t exceed this limit.
Tip 4: Keep Your Vehicle Indoors During Winter
The winter months are harsh, particularly on older vehicles. The combination of salty water from freshly-gritted roads and freezing temperatures leads to rapid metal corrosion, necessitating auto body repair.
You can make your vehicle’s chassis last longer by keeping it indoors during the winter. If you have the option, you can also rinse your car after a trip to remove any salt that might have attached itself to the chassis.
Tip 5: Flush Your Brake Fluid
Brake fluid transmits force from the brake pedal to the calipers. If it is pure, it will work as intended. However, if there is contamination, it won’t work as intended.
You can check the brake fluid. If it is cloudy, you’ll need to get a repair shop to replace it for you.