Want to keep your car running right? Of course, as an owner or driver you may want to keep your car running smoothly for long. After all, to know how to maintain a car in order to keep it in perfect condition is one of the most important factors in becoming a successful driver. One can’t be a good driver who doesn’t know how to operate a car properly.

Your car stays at its optimal level of operation is all about regular maintenance of your car! It can be kept running right as long as the owner wants to keep it. Here are a few tips to keep your car alive:

• Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. If your car has a “maintenance minder,” use it as a guideline for service. Check the manual if some items of your car need to be replaced, based on time rather than mileage. Most cars also need to have the timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. However, this costs a lot, but it’s far less expensive than the damage it causes if it breaks.
•  
• You need to learn all the details of your car. Therefore, ask your mechanic various questions so that you understand how the car works. The more you know, the better!
• Never opt for the least expensive replacement parts. You can get manufacturer quality replacement parts at a more affordable price.
• Whenever you stop to fill gas, you should open the hood. Then, you should listen to the engine, look for any leaks, damage to hoses and belts. Clean off any excess dirt with a rag.
• Be aware of new noises in the engine, strange smell or anything that just doesn’t feel right. If you have any doubt, talk to your mechanic or dealership.
• One of the best ways to detect any problem in your car is to ask a friend to drive your car in every two or three months. Because, there are some problems that appear or increase so gradually that you may not even notice them, but someone else who is less familiar would detect them. Also, by riding along in the passenger’s seat, you may spot something you missed while you are preoccupied with driving.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 7:48 am and is filed under Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.