5 Effective Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car in Good Shape

If you want to get the most out of your car, in terms of long life and resale value, then it’s important that you take good care of it. To that end, you’ll want to follow several maintenance tips.

Here are 5 effective maintenance tips to keep your car in good shape.

1. Change the Oil

It might seem as though only overly concerned auto mechanics care about getting routine oil changes. However, there is a reason why people who service vehicles for a living insist that their customers get their oil changed regularly.

It’s because it actually does makes a difference.

Getting an oil change every 3,000-5,000 miles (or however many miles your manual dictates) is a great way to keep your engine in top shape. Of course, when your engine is in top shape, it’s much more likely that your whole vehicle will be in top shape too.

On the other hand, if you want to destroy your engine as quickly as possible, neglect periodic oil changes. Good luck refinancing your auto loan if the engine goes south.

2. Flush the Cooling System

Your cooling system is just like anything else after it’s been left alone for a while: it will get dirty and require cleaning. It’s a simple fact that not too much of anything associated with mechanical engineering is self-cleaning.

That’s why you need to flush the cooling system and change the coolant at least once a year. Add a 50/50 mix of distilled water and coolant to the car once you’ve flushed it. That way, you’ll prevent corrosion build-ups in the system.

3. Keep Your Car Clean

Perhaps one of the most tedious responsibilities associated with car ownership is keeping your vehicle clean. However, regular cleaning is a great way to keep your car in good shape.

When you clean your vehicle, you’re not only improving its cosmetic appearance, but you’re also getting junk off of it that can, ultimately, affect performance. Be sure to hose off winter salt once the spring arrives. If you’ve driven through numerous mud puddles in a rain storm, clean the mud off of your car as soon as possible.

4. Wax Your Car

You might think that waxing is only for car enthusiasts who want to show off their vehicle to friends and family members. However, there’s more to waxing than a shiny coat.

Waxing also protects the vehicle.

All cars have a clear coat of wax that gets added after they’ve been painted. When you add a coat of wax on top of that, you’re offering additional protection against sunlight that can actually damage the paint. Waxing is especially helpful if your car is stored outdoors a lot.

5. Stay Out of the Sun

Even with a coat of protective wax, keep your vehicle out of the sun. Why tempt fate?

Also, be sure to protect the interior of your car from sunlight by putting a deflector screen in the window when you have to park it outside.

When it comes to comparing auto costs, you’ll find that people who keep their cars in good shape save money over the long run. Follow their example and apply some preventative maintenance to your vehicle.