subject: Most Common Mistakes In Car Maintenance [print this page] Compared to the sort of cars that were around 40 years ago, today's family autos are about as demanding to run and repair as a pencil. Motorists across the US really don't know how easy they have it today when it comes to keeping their cars moving in the right direction and applying the odd tweak here and there to cut down on the need for new auto parts.
Sadly, rather than leading to a situation where motorists are going about their merry way knowing exactly what to do and when to do it to keep their cars on the road, the evolution of the American auto has had a funny effect on the market. On one side there are those who won't even think about taking their car to the garage until it has exploded, while look for new auto parts every single time they need 1PSI or pressure adding to the spare tire.
It seems that few have really managed to adjust to the news way of auto-life in America and mechanics across the nation are united in their calls to rub out a few very bad habits. What most drivers don't seem to realize is that with the tiniest bit of effort, common sense and forethought, they can play a key role in the health and happiness of their car and avoid a myriad of common hiccups.
Tire Inflation
Tires always have and always will leak - fact. Tires that don't have the optimum amount of air in then will not only cause the care to use more gas, but will also wear out quicker and pose a danger to the car as a whole. So, rather than waiting until a tire is flat as a pancake, or worse still guessing its optimum PSI inflation level, why not check out the car's official guidelines and carry out a weekly 30-second check?
Wiper Woes
At any one time, tens of millions of motorists are driving round the States complaining that they cannot see properly when the first drop of rain hits. And of course, it's difficult to avoid plowing into things when you can't see. Why? Windscreen wiper blades are about the cheapest auto parts of all, cost pennies and can be changed in about a minute - why wait until things get so bad? They aren't after all, designed to last quite as long as the car itself!
Oil Changes
An oil change used to be recommended every 3000 miles or so, but that was back in the days when a car CD player would have been considered the most bizarrely futuristic contraption in the world. Nowadays all cars differ, so be sure to check out specific model guidelines and avoid sorting yours out too little or too often.
Brakes
Too many motorists take their brakes for granted - until of course they decide to give up the goose at high-speed. One of the best things about brakes is that there are the kids of auto parts that tell you when there is a problem, either by the way they feel or sound - no excused for ignorance.
Gas Cap
Last but not least, one of the most common reasons of all why millions hit garages every year for full diagnostic checks and new auto parts is that they haven't properly closed the gas cap. Embarrassing and expensive, so don't do it!
