subject: Performing A General Car Maintenance [print this page] To ensure that your car runs as well as possible, for as long as possible, you may want to consider performing general car maintenance every ten thousand miles. This will ensure that everything is in working order. It will also help extend the life of your car. Performing general maintenance requires little to no experience, and is actually extremely easy to do. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started.
Fluid Checks: Making Sure Everything is Level
Every ten thousand miles, as a part of your general car maintenance, you will want to check the fluid levels in your vehicle, even if you already frequently check and change the engine oil. Fluid checks are simple, but before performing them, make sure that your car is parked on level ground and has been off for at least five minutes. This allows all fluids to settle. First, check the engine oil. Locate the oil dipstick. Insert it into the oil, then pull it out and check the reading. The oil should be above low, but not above full. If your oil comes out black, it is time to change the oil in your car. If it comes out a caramel brown, you don't need to change it yet, only fill it up if need be.
Next, check the engine coolant. If the fluid is below the low level marker, fill it up. Important: Do not open the engine coolant tank while the engine is hot. After you have checked the coolant level, if you have an automatic car, you will need to check the transmissions fluid. To do this, you first need to drive your car for a while in order to let the fluid heat up. Once you have done this, park on level ground, but leave the engine running. Open the hood and locate the transmission dipstick. Dip the dipstick into the transmissions fluid. The color of the fluid should be a violet or red. If it is brown, you will need to change your transmissions fluid.
The Battery and the Tire Inspections
The battery is the easiest part of your general car maintenance check. You can tell a battery needs to be replaced by looking at it. If there are any cracks or leaks, the battery needs to go, in order to prevent corrosion. For tire inspections, although you should check them every month, during your maintenance, you should look for wear in the tread and make sure the PSI level is good. A worn down tread can cause slippage, so if you notice that your tires have little to no tread, consider replacing them soon. Use a PSI gauge to check the air level of your tires. You should have a reading close to what your tire says the max PSI is, which can be found on the sidewall of the tire. If you have the knowhow, you may also want to consider rotating your car's tires. Due to the difference in wear between the front and back, this will allow you to get more life out of them.
When to See a Professional
If you noticed any issues that you couldn't identify during your general car maintenance or tire inspection, it may be a good idea to bring your car in to a professional mechanic's shop. Be sure to tell them what you were doing when you noticed the problem, as it may have some relation.
