Maintaining used car or a brand new car is not a difficult job. Buying used car is always a good option especially in this recession period. You have to do good research on buying a used car before you decide to buy one. Small and technically not so complicated cars are good as they are easy and cheap to maintain. For a brand new car there won’t be much maintenance for the first two years as all the mechanical parts are new and do not cause any problem. Whereas most of the parts in a used car would be in wearing condition or must have reached their maximum designed life span. Periodical maintenance and mechanical checkups are essential for used cars and brand new cars, as well.
There is a need for regular checkup on tires, oil, windows, brakes, interiors and fluids. Modern cars will have all status reports displayed in the dash board panel of the car. So, it is easy to follow up and do the maintenance. It would be also easy if a car maintenance chart is prepared and checked manually on a regular basis. Certain replenishments can be done without the help of a mechanics. Filling engine oil, brake fluid, coolant and battery water can be done without the help of mechanics. Battery acid can also be filled without the technician’s help, if the battery is not a sealed one. You can maintain tire pressure as per the manufacture’s recommendation.
Primary intention of buying a used car is to have a budget – friendly car that can give all the comfort of a modern day life. A regular check up and periodical maintenance will definitely give you the expected return for the money that has been spent on buying the car. Any used car after purchase requires some kind of tune up to give good performance. Therefore it is advised to take the car to a mechanic and have a thorough check up done before you start using it regularly.
a) Tire: Check tire pressure regularly by using a pressure gauge, and maintain the tire pressure as per manufactures recommendation. Do the periodical rotation of changing tires to get the best durability of all the tires.
b) Engine oil: Though you can see the oil level reading or condition of the engine oil in the dashboard panel it is better to do a manual checking also. While the engine is in idle condition, pull out the dip stick and wipe out the oil on the dip stick and take the reading again pushing the dip stick into the engine. If the oil level is below the required level then you can replenish it. Similarly, by checking the color or thickness of the oil you can determine if the oil needs to be changed. By experience you can learn how to decide the condition of the engine oil.
c) Fluids: Transmission fluid, Brake fluid and steering fluids can be checked on a regular basis to make sure they are at the required level.
d) Misc: Similarly the battery acid, radiator coolant and lights need to be checked to make sure all these components are up to the mark. Selecting a good mechanic is also very important. Some mechanics may be specialized in particular brand of cars. It is a good idea to find out mechanics that are specialized in particular type of cars. Mechanics with some specialization would have ample experience on a particular version of cars, and hence maintenance recommendations would be precise, always. Their advices would be quite valuable. A well maintained car will give you trouble free companionship like a new car. There won’t be much difference between used and a brand new car if proper and periodical maintenance is taken care of.
Right knowledge on car maintenance can help the car owners to keep the car on road for a longer period. Either you can pay a mechanic or deal with all simple stuff yourself and leave tough things to professionals. All wear and tear elements outside and inside the car must be regularly replaced, else eventually they will break or wear out more without any warning. Below are few important tips that need to be followed and practiced in order to maintain the car in the best running condition at possible minimum cost.
♦ Many people miss air filter while doing a servicing, but it is very essential to keep an eye on the air filter. Air is required for maintaining the right gas/air mixture for resourceful combustion in cylinders. Do take care that air filter isn’t blocked with dust or sand.
♦ Check tires frequently to remove any stones or debris from their threads. Make certain that tires are properly inflated to suggested pressure. Note that under inflation will cause excessive wear while over inflation will result in grip loss. Check for all wears on thread as it generally happens on every tire because of road chamber, weight on tires and driving technique.
♦ Engine oil has to be changed regularly for proper car maintenance. It lubricates all moving elements in the engine and maintains a smooth run. Some oil is for lubricating cylinders and may get burned with gasoline. Therefore, the engine oil drops over the time. The oil may pick up minute metal particles and dirt which are produced through wear. These can become abrasion sources in moving engine parts. Use dipstick to check oil levels. Top the oil up in case oil level gets underneath mid level. If oil is found dirty, change the oil as well as the oil filter. Maintain transmission fluid level also.
♦ Maintain the radiator coolant always at the top level. . You may use at least 50/50 antifreeze/water parts in the winter. If atmospheric temperature is below -30F, it is recommended to use sixty parts antifreeze to forty parts water in the mixture. On adding additional ethylene glycol to water can increase the freezing resistance, but will reduce the effect of cooling on engine. So, use only the required amount of ethylene glycol to avoid freezing.
♦ The car may sometimes emit strange smell which is an indication for upcoming issues. Musty smell implies that water is clogged under the carpets and needs drying; else it will rust the car and destroy the carpet. Smoky smell signifies electrical problems, mostly. You must immediately shut down the car in such cases and check bonnet of the car. Strange smell can also arise when the fuel tank overflows or gets choked. Check the fuel tank immediately. Tires may face issues and you may sometimes be able to sense with burning smell. The same happens when varnish burns.
♦ Just like odd smells, the sounds also indicate language of a sick car. You may check car’s front shaft if you hear an odd clicking sound on turning the front wheels of your car. Even overheating can be experienced. You must stop and allow the car to cool down, and show it to mechanic at the earliest. Knocking sound of engine implies that an oil check is required. Check up immediately if backfiring occurs while driving normally.
Check the lights and response of brakes regularly and refill brake fuel reservoir of the car. Clean the battery terminals. Regularly feed them with grease to avoid corrosion. See if plates are placed rightly every time. Routine repairs and maintenance on interiors and exteriors of the car can make good sense for all your smooth driving experience. It is advised to service the car every few months or specific miles traveled. Keep your car in excellent shape!
