Vehicle Maintenance - Get Ready For Winter

Cold weather is coming and in some northern statestake it to a mechanic and have your brake fluid
is already here. That means it's time to winterizechanged when have new brake pads installed about
your car.every 40,000 miles. It's a good idea to have the
Vehicle maintenance is something we don't thinktransmission fluid checked when you change brake
about unless there's a problem, but regularpads.
maintenance and routine inspection can preventTires
unnecessary breakdowns and expenses. AlthoughTire pressure should be checked once a month. Be
there are some maintenance items that must besure to check the tires when the car hasn't been
done by a professional, there are some simple thingsdriven for at least three hours. Look in your owner's
you can either check at home or schedule to havemanual or on the inside of the door jam for the
done routinely.manufacturers recommended air pressure. You will
Fluidsneed an air pressure gauge which is available for a
Windshield washer fluid is held in a reservoir under thefew dollars at any auto supply store.. Take the valve
hood that is usually very easy to get to. If you live incap off the tire and place the end of the tire gauge
a mild climate you may fill the reservoir with waterover the valve. Press the gauge straight and firmly
and a little mild dishwashing detergent. However, ifuntil the scale in the center of the gauge pops out. If
you live in a cold climate, water may freeze andthe scale shows less pressure than your
burst the container, so be sure to use a windshieldmanufacturer recommends, you should take your
washer solvent instead. The same goes for yourvehicle to a service (gas) station where there is an
radiator, use a quality antifreeze mixed with waterair machine. You will again remove the cap from the
and use an antifreeze tester to make sure thevalve and use the air hose to fill the tire a few puffs
mixture will hold to the lowest temperature possibleat the time and recheck between puffs to make
for your area.sure you have reached the desired pressure without
Keeping your oil and oil filter changed every 3,000 tooverfilling.
5,000 miles can add years of life to your car. Dirty oilTo check the tread on your tires you will need a
cuts down on gas mileage and causes unnecessarypenny. Stand Abe Lincoln on his head between each
friction on engine parts. Make sure you change the oilrow of tread of your tire. If any of Abe's head is
filter every time you change the oil. Check the oilhidden, you have sufficient tread. You will need to
level between changes especially on cars with highcheck all the way around the tire not just in one
mileage. If you let the oil get low you could blowposition. Conduct this test on all your tires even the
your engine and have to pay serious money for aspare in your trunk. The most common cause for
rebuild. Some people prefer to change their oil atirregular wear patterns on a tire is due to one of
home, but since some people do not have anthree things:
appropriate (safe, flat surface) place or tools to do1. Not having the correct amount of air in your tire
an oil change, it's easier to take it to one of those2. Not having the tires rotated and balanced.
places that do it while you wait. It only takes about3. The front end of your car is out of alignment.
15 minutes and costs about $20 to $25 so grab aTires should be rotated every 5,000 miles or sooner
sandwich and a good book then have your oilif you car's manufacturer recommends it. The
changed during your lunch hour.alignment can be checked at the same time.
Brake Fluid weakens with exposure to air andVehicle maintenance is really not that hard once you
moisture and needs to be replaced periodically. Unlessunderstand the basics and it doesn't take that much
you know what you are doing, I recommend youtime to do a few simple tests.