Maintaining your vehicle is vitally important. It will run better and it will be less likely to break down - leading to more expensive repairs than you previously may have needed. Having said that, there are factors that you need to take into account. There are a number of common mistakes that can happen with car maintenance which can potentially damage a vehicle or take it right off the road. Here are some of the biggest mistakes to avoid with car maintenance so that you can prevent them from happening with your own vehicle:
Ignoring your check engine light - if you're simply used to seeing warning lights on your dash, it may be a good idea to consider getting them checked out or performing a computer reset. Even if your vehicle is still performing normally, it could be something that the computer has sensed that could one day take down your vehicle. As soon as these lights appear on the dashboard consider getting your vehicle into a mechanic to pay for repairs early on. Dealing with a warning light early on can mean you only have to fix a small problem. Ignoring small problems can lead to them becoming bigger problems. Severe engine damage or replacement can be much more expensive than the previous problem you may need to have fixed when you first noticed a problem.
Not regularly checking tyres - Tyres can very easily lose pressure. Incorrectly pressured tyres can put you in danger. Make sure they are regularly checked. Getting a pressure gauge will help to check the exact tire pressure on your vehicle. Many things can affect tyre pressure - including temperature. Incorrect pressure means your car will be less fuel efficient and also that your tyres will wear more quickly.
Make sure you regularly change the oil - Different vehicles require their engine oil to be changed at different times - anywhere from 5000 to 15000 km. You shouldn’t just wait for the oil light to come on either. You need to be more proactive than this. Proper and clean motor oil needs to be regularly flowing through the engine in order to prevent sludge deposits and to provide a cooling and lubrication of engine parts. You could sacrifice your engine by not regularly performing regular oil changes.
Not getting regular wheel alignment/rotation: When your tyres have the chance to wear differently this can really compromise the performance of your vehicle and lead to vibration which can cause even further damage. Rotating your tyres regularly will make sure that you are getting the best fuel economy and performance.
Make sure that you follow these tips to regularly maintain your car to allow you to avoid potentially costly maintenance mistakes. We can help you look after your tyres. If you want to chat about your truck, car, van or ute tyres please get in touch today.