Universal Tips For Your Loving Car
Tips For Your Loving Car
Hi, guys you have bought your own car and now you want to make it last as long as possible in good condition. Here are some things to remember you.
General Tips
Be patient during the break-in period
1. During the break-in period, usually the first 1,000 miles or1,600 km, keep your speed under 55 mph or 88 kpm to the speed suggested by your car’s manufacturer.
2. Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
3. Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods—this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during break-in. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
4. Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.
Note: Be aware of these ways that you’re wasting money on your car.
· Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.
This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
· Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.
The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first 10 to 20 minutes of operation.
· Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.
The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
· Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights.
Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
· Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside.
Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
· Extend the life of your tires with careful driving.
Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
· When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds.
Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
· Consolidate your short driving trips.
Most of the wear and tear—as well as the pollution your car generates—takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.
Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump station. Find a station you trust and stick to it.
If a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at gas station, come back or go to a different station. As filling time, the disorder can mix up sediment. Sediment in your gas can choke fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs.
If vehicle stuck in mud or snow, don’t damaging an expensive component. Gently rocking in an attempt to free the car. If it looks as though you’re really stuck, don’t keep at it. Throwing your car from forward to reverse repeatedly can generate lots of heat and spell trouble for transmissions, clutches, and differentials. So it’s a good idea to carry a traction aid in the trunk, such as sand, gravel, or cat litter etc.
Lighten up your keychain
If your car key has a chain with a dozen or more other keys, That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition. So purchase a lightweight keychain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others.
In the form of an accident make sure that your car will be repaired to the best possible standard by finding an insurer that will pay for parts from the original manufacturer and guarantee the repairs it authorizes.
Keep a pad and pencil in the glove box and use them to record your gas fill-ups and mileage. Because If you notice that your gas mileage worsens, mention it to your serviceman. It may be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your car.Preserve your car during long-term storage
If you are not going to use your car for more than a month, store it properly to prevent unnecessary damage and repairs upon your return.
· Fill the gas tank to help prevent condensation from accumulating in the gas tank.
· Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
· Place a vapor barrier on your garage floor
· Disengage the parking brake to help avoid brake corrosion.
· Put the car on jack stands to take the weight of the vehicle off the wheels and tires.
· Disconnect and remove the battery to keep it from draining
· Plug the tailpipe with a rag to prevent moist air from infiltrating into it.
Of course, a garage is always the ideal place to park your car. But if one isn’t available, minimize interior damage from UV sunlight and heat by always trying to park your car in the shade. If no shade is available or if you find parking under a tree results in bird droppings, use a car shade to minimize the sun’s impact. Car shades come in two basic types: those that you unfold and place on the front windshield and rear window, or pleated types that attach to the windshield posts, window frames, or the windows themselves
Inside Tips
Vacuum and sponge your interior every time you wash your car. Dirt particles are abrasive, and spilled liquids, such as soda, can be acidic. Vacuum your interior thoroughly with a powerful vacuum. Sponge vinyl surfaces clean with a solution of mild detergent and water.
Clean dash gauges carefully
Use a soft wet cloth to lightly wipe dust from the clear plastic lenses on your dashboard. Too much pressure will scratch them. Too many scratches can make it difficult to read your gauges under certain lighting conditions.
Let floor mats take winter’s beating
If washing your car, drag out the rubber or carpet floor mats and blast them with the hose. This will dislodge dirt particles. Let the mats dry thoroughly in the sun before put them.
For stubborn carpet or mat stains
After vacuuming floor mats or interior carpeting, apply foam rug cleaner to resistant stains as directed by the maker.
Preserve door and window seals
Wipe a rubber protector or silicone on door and window weather stripping to keep it in good condition. Don’t use an oil based product because the oil will damage the rubber. Regular cleaning and treatment of your car’s weather stripping
Replace bad weather stripping immediately
If your weather stripping is letting rainwater leak into the interior of your car then repair it or replaced. Small leaks can be handled with brush-on seam sealers. Buy a product that matches your car’s original weather stripping..
Keep leather from drying out and cracking
Leather cars seats are long-lasting and don’t require a lot of maintenance. For log life clean it and remove dirt particles. Then apply a leather protector formulated for pigmented and easier to clean in the future.
Use of upholstery cleaners on dirty seats
The same upholstery cleaners you use at home can be used on your car’s upholstery.Use a clean cloth to wipe away the foam. On velour seats, brush the fibers gently to avoid matting them and to protect the original texture of the fabric.
Place a towel under baby seats
Place a sheet of heavy plastic and an absorbent towel under the seat to prevent damage,
Protect car paint from the sun
The best way to protect the paint is to park the car in a garage. If that is not possible, park in the shade or purchase a car cover. The sun’s ultraviolet rays break down paint and cause it to fade.
Touch up nicks sooner rather than later
Keep some matching touch-up paint so you can touch up any minor nicks, before rust has a chance to form.
Tape saves light covers
A cracked taillight may allow your light compartment to fill with water and cause some real damage. A good short-term fix is to tape over the crack. Use the red or orange tape that’s made for this purpose. It is available at many automotive parts stores.
Avoid light fixture problems
If you are changing a bad bulb, clean dirty sockets with fine steel wool or a small wire brush. Clean the socket of debris before installing the new light bulb.
Fix small windshield chips
If you got a crack or ding in your windshield? Bring your car to a windshield repair shop. they can fix chips and cracks, even quite long ones.
Fill with washer fluid only
Always use washer fluid to clean windshield , Don’t try to run your windshield washer system if you think there’s no more fluid in the tank, in this case you may damage the washer fluid pump.
Don’t try to carry too much
Never exceed your car’s roof load or weight limits.You can find them in your vehicle owner’s manual, check the weight limit of your roof.
To Protect your car’s roof from scratches use an old blanket before tying lumber, bicycles, or luggage to your roof rack.
Secure loads may avoid dents and scratches
Inspect wheel-well splash guards
In short it can damage sensitive electrical components. Unfortunately, these guards tear off easily— sometimes without the driver knowing it.
Wax to protect your car’s paint jobCar wax preserves paint by slowing oxidation and forming a barrier against bird droppings, sap, and pollution. Plus driving a nice shiny car is just plain fun.
If you plan to service and make repairs to your car place them safely to rest your tools without causing scratches.
If the tire valve is missing its cap, the culprit might be a leaky valve. Those little caps keep out dirt and moisture that can cause leaks, so be sure to keep caps on all your tire valves.
Maintain proper inflation
If you want to get every last mile out of your tires, get yourself a tire pressure gauge and use it at least once a month to keep your tires inflated to the recommendation in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
Physical Tips
Check tires for uneven wear. Because uneven wear may indicate the need for a wheel realignment. It can also mean rudely operating brakes or shocks, a bent wheel, internal tire damage etc.
Check tread for safetyMany states require tires to be replaced when they have worn down to 1/16-inch (1.5 mm) of remaining tire depth. If you see that situation replace them with new.
Rotate your tires
Rotating your tires helps to distribute tire wear evenly and you will get the maximum road life. The first rotation is especially important. Rotate your tires every 6,000 to 7,500 miles (9,700 to 12,000 km) is perfect to rotate tires.
If outside temperatures is down, tires tend to lose pressure. Tires can lose even more air in hot weather. If you live in a place where temperatures vary a lot, check your tire pressure often and add air as needed.
If you own a car and you have plane to use it for another year, the thing you have to do is to buy a set of tires or buy a set of used tires. Call local tire dealers to see what’s available.
The metal wheel cleaners come in various formulations as well, depending upon whether your metal wheel has a satin, aluminum, or chrome finish. Protect metal wheels with wheel polish, painted wheels with a coat of wax.
Lug nuts, can seize to the studs due to corrosion and repairing them can be expensive, if not lubricated occasionally. Clean the stud threads with a wire brush and wipe them with the lubricant.
Hang on to your hubcaps
Hubcaps, wheel covers, and center caps can pop off your car’s wheels as you’re driving if they were not reinstalled correctly, have loosened over time, or if they were damaged by being jammed against a curb while parking. Here are some things you can do to keep these expensive parts on the car:
· If your older metal hubcap has loosened, remove it and pry the metal clips outward slightly.
· Newer plastic-type hubcaps and some wheel covers are usually held in place by a retaining wire ring that snaps into tabs on the wheel.
· One way to make sure your expensive hubcaps aren’t damaged by a repair shop is to remove them yourself before taking your car in for a repair that requires wheel removal, such as a brake job or new tires.
Have wheel alignment checkedHave your car’s wheel alignment checked every (48,000 km), or as recommended in your owner’s manual. Improper tire alignment will shorten the life of your tires as well as cause poor handling. If your steering is stiffer than normal or the vehicle pulls to one side, you probably have an alignment problem.
Top off your brake fluid
Check brake fluid monthly. If you need fluid, add the recommended by your car’s maker. Never use fluids, such as transmission or power-steering fluid. And don’t use brake fluid from a previously opened container. Once exposed to air, brake fluid absorbs moisture and contaminates easily.
An anti-lock brake system is sensitive to moisture so it can damage the expensive ABS pump and rot the brake lines from the inside. Since brake fluid attracts moisture, it should be purged at least every three years, or as per your owner’s manual.
Mechanical Tips
Check engine oil at every other fill-up
Avoid overfilling your crankcase with oil
Don’t overfill engine oil, The result can be overheating and stress on engine components. Overfilling can also foul your spark plugs. In fact, overfilling is a bad idea with all automotive fluids.
Always clean the drain plug and washer with rags before reinstalling your oil pan. Some plugs are magnetized to trap metal particles.
· Change the oil filter at least at every other oil change
· Check the air filter every two months and replace it when dirty or as part of a tune-up
· Despite claims by makers and dealers that some newer fuel filters never need changing, it’s smart to have it done once a year.
· Change your transmission fluid filter after the first 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of driving and every 25,000 miles (40,000 km) or two years thereafter.
Don’t forget the PCV valve
The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) the valve should be changed every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or as specified in your owner’s manual. When replacing your PCV valve, be sure you use the correct one or you may damage your engine.
Heavier is not always better
Use the oil viscosity grade that’s recommended in your owner’s manual for the temperature range you expect for the coming season.. Do not use a heavy grade of oil in cold winter climes or you will risk damage to your engine.
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter after the first 5,000 miles (8,000 km) and after every 25,000 miles (40,000 km) or two years thereafter, or as recommended in your owner’s manual. Use synthetic motor oil or gear lube for longer transmission life unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise.
Cooler operating temperatures of engine oil and transmission fluid can add significantly to the life of your engine and transmission.
Many manufacturers recommend changing plugs every (48,000 to 64,000 km) to ensure good fuel mileage and engine performance . Change your spark plug wires as well. Their typical life is (80,000 km). 
Avoid hose hasslesCheck the hoses under your hood every month or two to avoid the hassle of a broken hose while you’re on the road. Never drive with a ruptured coolant hose, or you are responsible to overheat the engine and damage it. Other hoses are crucial to the operation of your power brakes and cruise-control systems.
Check the tension and condition of your drive belt every month. Belts that are too tight can wear out the bearings in accessory components, such as AC compressor, water pump, and power-steering pump. Belts that are too loose will wear out faster and may fail prematurely.
A failed timing belt can, depending on engine type, cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your engine.
A clean engine will run cooler than a dirty one. A clean engine will also make it much easier to spot leaks and to service components. During wash or clean remember to protect sensitive engine components. Use dishwashing liquid or other grease-cutting detergents and a bristle brush to scrub engine and components surfaces.
To keep your car’s air-conditioning system fit for the next warm season, run it frequently throughout the winter. It will help moving parts in the compressor from seizing, and also circulating the refrigerant will help keep the seals soft and pliant.
Perhaps the manufacturer says your battery is maintenance free, but don’t you believe it! Check your battery regularly to extend its life. Some important points are under as.
Begin with the simple: keeping your battery clean.
Clean the battery posts or terminals
Inspect the battery case for damage, such as cracks or bulges
Reinstall the cables, positive first, and coat the terminals and clamps with a thin coating of grease to prevent new corrosion.
Some batteries need waterCheck the level of the electrolyte. Don’t use tap water, as it may contain minerals that can damage your battery. Mechanics should check your battery as a part of your regularly scheduled maintenance.
Save the high expense of a new radiator by trying to seal a leak with a radiator sealer, such as Alumaseal from Gold Eagle Co which is available in powder or liquid form.
Your cooling system needs both coolant-antifreeze and water, so don’t unclean coolant into your cooling system.The water ensures good heat transfer from the coolant to the radiator.
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