Eight Basic Car Maintenance Tasks You’ll Probably Skip but Really Shouldn’t
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our cars. We love our vehicles because they represent freedom (and economic necessity if you rely on them to get to work or go to the grocery store), but we hate how much they cost and the fact that you never stop paying for them. Keeping a car running costs an average of $1,452 per year, and the total cost of car ownership is a whopping $6,684 per year.
As important as car maintenance is to ensure its reliability, people tend to skip a very large part of it. If all you do every year is the basics—changing engine oil and filters as part of a standard tune-up—you’re missing out on a bunch of maintenance tasks that seem less important. Here are the car maintenance steps that you should never skip.
Cleaning the Battery Terminals
Your car’s battery is where the magic begins: when you turn the key or press the ignition button, a charged, fully functioning battery powers everything. Even if your battery is relatively new and still in good condition, corrosion can form on the terminals. Anything that interferes with the connection between the battery and the systems it powers will affect the performance of your vehicle and can damage the engine and electrical systems, so it is recommended that you clean these terminals twice a year. It’s actually a pretty simple process .
Checking all fluids
Sure, you change your oil on a schedule, but your car runs on many different fluids , and you should check and change them all regularly. This includes:
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Transmission fluid . Just because it is “sealed” or described as “lifetime” does not mean it cannot be inspected and possibly replaced. It’s a good idea to make sure the level hasn’t dropped when you change the oil, and even if your transmission fluid makes it past 100,000 miles, you should change it.
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Brake fluid . Brake fluid can break down just like motor oil, so it’s a good idea to check it every time you change your oil and replace it every few years, even if your brakes are working fine. However, you’re better off asking your mechanic to do this for you unless you have a lot of experience, as changing brake fluid can be a little more complicated than changing other fluids used in your car.
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Differential fluid . The differential distributes power to the wheels, making cornering smoother and giving the vehicle greater stability. You should check your car’s owner’s manual for details, but generally speaking, you should replace it when you’ve driven it 30,000 miles or so.
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Coolant . If you haven’t checked your antifreeze recently, now is the time. Draining and replacing coolant is incredibly easy and should be done according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or every few years.
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Power steering . You like to drive a car without putting your back into it, don’t you? Next, you should check your power steering fluid to make sure it doesn’t look like dirt. If yes, change it. If this is not the case, find the recommended replacement schedule for your vehicle and change it.
Change your wipers
The worst time to realize that your wipers have become a shell of their former self is when you’re caught in a downpour and can’t see through the rain. Plus, there’s nothing less fun than changing your windshield wipers in the middle of a thunderstorm. Your windshield wipers are warning you that they are wearing out, leaving streaks and making a lot of squeaking noises, so when you notice these signs, it’s time to remove the old ones and install new ones.
Check the light
You rely on your car’s various lights – headlights, hazard lights, signal lights and brake lights – to operate your vehicle safely, so it’s surprising how many people don’t bother to check that they actually work. Every year, take two minutes to turn on the lights and walk around the car to make sure they are all working properly. Changing a light bulb here and there can save you from getting pulled over by a cop or worse.
Check your tire pressure
Proper tire pressure affects almost every aspect of your driving—it can make braking difficult, affect vehicle stability (if you’ve never felt your car shake due to overinflated tires, you’re not alive), and affect fuel efficiency. Check your tire pressure (it’s literally printed on the tire itself ) at least once a month and adjust if necessary.
Even if you rotate your tires regularly (as you should), you should also check your tire tread wear from time to time. Rapid or uneven tire tread wear can indicate other problems with your vehicle, and if your tires are starting to go a little bald, it’s a very good idea to replace them before your lack of traction causes you to have an accident.
Sewer cleaning
You may not even realize that your car has several drain holes that prevent water from pooling in the engine or interior. All of these drains should be inspected and cleaned periodically, otherwise moisture will accumulate, causing components to rust and vehicle parts to stain. Typical drain locations include:
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Hatches . If you have a sunroof, your vehicle has gutters built into it that drain rain and other water that comes through the seals. Your vehicle’s manual will tell you exactly where they are, but they are usually located at the corners of the sunroof.
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Doors. Drains are often located at the bottom of doors. Often, roof drains are also connected to them.
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Windshield. Look where the windshield meets the car’s hood and you’ll likely find gutters at each end.
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Trunk/bed. Drains are also often included with the vehicle.
All of these drains can become clogged with dirt, which can cause water to seep into the car or cause invisible rust and corrosion to destroy the car from the inside out. They can usually be cleaned using a garden hose – the water pressure alone is enough to remove accumulated debris. If you have a clog, running a long wire through the drain will help.
Change the cabin filter
You probably replace your engine filters regularly, but have you ever checked and replaced your cabin air filter ? These filters purify the air supplied to your vehicle’s interior through your air conditioning, heating, or ventilation system. It gets dirty like any other filter, resulting in poor air quality inside your car and additional stress on your systems. Review the manual to see where it’s hidden, then replace it at least once a year—more often if you notice poor air quality or if you regularly drive through dusty areas.
Washing outside
You may think that washing your car is a luxury or an unimportant aspect of car care, but you are wrong. Your car is littered with tons of nasty stuff, from dirt that scratches the trim, bugs that clog your windshield, and corrosives that can undermine seals and other components of your car. In other words, not washing your car on a regular basis will shorten its life and increase maintenance costs.