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Routine Maintenance Keeps Your Car on the Road
When was the last time you thoroughly checked your car? My son, who works in an oil-change shop, says most people just put gas in their vehicles and go. In today's economy, it is more important than ever to keep your vehicles running smoothly. Now, you might think my car is serviced by my son and you would be right; but long before he came into this world, I kept to a maintenance schedule for all my cars. I even took a Powder Puff mechanics course. Granted back then cars were not as complex as they are today, but the checklist of services that need to be performed routinely are the same. While I did learn to change a tire, check and change my oil and a few other simple things, I was mainly taught to care for my vehicle and that maintenance routine continues to pay off to this day. I hope the following information will help you develope your own maintenance checklist that will keep your car on the road.
MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST: 1. Read through the owners manual, this booklet is the first and best source of information on your car and its maintenance schedule.
2. Label a new file folder with the following information: the car's year, make, model, mileage and the date the vehicle was purchased. This folder will hold every single bill, invoice, dealer warranty work invoice, or receipt that pertains to your car. On each statement make sure you have the date AND the mileage at the time of service. When my car was totaled in an accident I was able to get a little more from the insurance company because I could prove, for example, that I had just purchased tires prior to the crash.
3. Put your registration, proof of insurance and a little notebook in the glove box. The reasons for the first two items are obvious; but the little notebook is not for phone numbers! This notebook will help you track your "miles per gallon." Recording the mileage and number of gallons every time you buy gas will, at a glance, give you an idea of how your car is performing.
4. Develop a consistent routine for visual and under-the-hood checks.
* Fluid levels and color clarity:
oil, transmission, power steering, brake,
coolant(antifreeze) and windshield washer solvent
* Belts and hoses
* Battery
* Air filter
* Tires, tire pressure and wear patterns
* Head and tail lights, brake lights, signal lights,
emergency flashers
* Window wiper blades
* Seatbelts
* Liquid puddles under the car
5. Keep your car clean inside and out. The frequency of your checklist will depend on your lifestyle and driving habits. As my son pointed out one day "oil changes are recommended every so many miles, but those are odometer miles. Your oil still travels through the engine even when the car is stopped at a light, held up by traffic, or sitting there idling." You might want to have oil changes done more frequently if you do a lot of stop and go driving. |
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The copyright for this content entitled "Routine Maintenance Keeps Your Car on the Road" has been specified by the contributor as:
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This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
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This intel was contributed by mizrae
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May, 2012
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