Car Care Tips
Taking Care of your New Car
Congratulations on your new car! Now that you’re a proud owner, it’s important to take care of your investment. By following these basic car care tips, you can help your car last for many years to come. If you need help financing your car, contact a UCCU representative.
Oil Change
Change your oil regularly. Oil helps to lubricate the engine and prevent wear and tear. When the oil gets old and dirty, it can no longer do its job properly. This can lead to increased wear and tear on the engine, decreased fuel economy, and even engine damage. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but check your owner’s manual for the specific interval for your car.
Tire Pressure
Check your tire pressure regularly. Low tire pressure can cause your car to overheat, wear out your tires prematurely, and reduce your fuel economy. The recommended tire pressure is usually listed on the inside of the driver’s side door jamb. Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before long trips.
Car Servicing
Get your car serviced regularly. This includes things like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often you need to get your car serviced. Getting your car serviced regularly will help to catch any potential problems early on, before they have a chance to cause major damage.
Clean Your Car
Wash your car regularly. This will help to keep your car looking its best and protect the paint from the elements. Dirt and grime can build up on the paint and cause it to fade, chip, and crack. Therefore, washing your car regularly will help to prevent this damage.
Wax your car regularly. Waxing will help to protect the paint and make it easier to wash. Wax forms a barrier between the paint and the elements, which helps to prevent dirt, grime, and UV rays from damaging the paint.
Keep your car clean inside and out. This will help to prevent dirt and grime from building up and causing damage. Dirt and grime can attract moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth. It can also cause the interior of your car to smell bad.
Car Storage
Store your car in a garage or covered parking spot. In turn, this will help to protect your car from the elements and theft. A garage or covered parking spot will help to keep your car from getting wet, dirty, and hot. It will also make it more difficult for thieves to steal your car.
Maintenance Schedule
Here is a basic maintenance schedule that you can follow to help keep your car in good condition:
- 3,000 to 5,000 miles; Change your Oil: Oil helps to lubricate the engine and prevent wear and tear. When the oil gets old and dirty, it can no longer do its job properly. This can lead to increased wear and tear on the engine, decreased fuel economy, and even engine damage.
- 4,000 to 6,000 miles; Rotate your tires: Rotating tires helps to evenly wear the tires. This will help to extend the life of the tires and improve handling.
- 10,000-15,000 miles; Brake Pads: Check brake pads and rotors every 12,000 miles. Brake pads and rotors are wear items that also need to be replaced periodically. Checking them regularly will help to ensure that they are in good condition and will not fail unexpectedly.
- 15,000 Miles: Change Air Filter: Change the air filter every 15,000 miles. The air filter helps to clean the air that enters the engine. When the air filter gets dirty, it can restrict airflow to the engine, which can decrease fuel economy and increase emissions.
- 30,000 miles: Change the transmission fluid: Transmission fluid helps to lubricate the transmission and prevent wear and tear. When the transmission fluid gets old and dirty, it can no longer do its job properly. This can lead to increased wear and tear on the transmission, decreased fuel economy, and even transmission failure.
- 60,000 miles; Change the spark plugs: Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine. When spark plugs get old, they can misfire, which can decrease fuel economy and increase emissions.
- 90,000 miles; Check the timing belt: The timing belt is a rubber belt also helps to keep the engine’s valves in sync. If the timing belt breaks, it can cause serious damage to the engine.
- 120,000 miles; Flush the cooling system: The cooling system helps to keep the engine cool. Over time, the coolant in the cooling system can break down and become ineffective thus damaging your car. Flushing the cooling system also will help to remove any contaminants and ensure that the cooling system is working properly.
By following these basic car care tips and maintenance schedule, you can help your car last for many years to come. Therefore, by saving money on car care, you can put more money back in your pocket. So what are you waiting for? Start taking care of your car today!
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