American Auto Shield Blog

Fall in Love with Your Car Again

For most of us, our vehicle is our biggest financial investment aside from our home. So why not show something so important in your life a little love this Valentine’s Day? Like any relationship, you get back what you give. Just by maintaining it regularly, your vehicle can get better gas mileage and give back years of great performance.

  10 Ways you can Show Your Car Some Love this Valentine’s Day…and any other day of the year:

1. Clean your car and undercarriage.  Road salt can damage your vehicle by eating away at its undercarriage. Wash your car and clean off road salt and grime regularly. Be sure to wax your car at the beginning and end of the warm season. These steps can keep your ride looking sweet.
2. Clean out the junk in your trunk.  Carrying too much extra baggage in your trunk increases the weight of your vehicle and lowers your gas mileage. Taking some time to clean out your trunk now could save you gas money later.
3. Check and rotate your tires.  Check the pressure on each of your tires on a regular basis, especially when it’s cold out. Under inflated tires can decrease your gas mileage and will wear faster. When tires are worn they decrease road traction and the car’s ability to handle on the road, making it unsafe. Rotating your tires regularly ensures they wear evenly and maximizes the life of the tire, saving you money. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations for tire pressure and rotations. Generally, you should rotate your tires every 5,000 – 10,000 miles. Some people rotate their tires after each oil change, which is a handy way to remember. 
4. Change your oil and filter.  Changing your oil and filter helps minimize engine stress. When an engine runs combustion by-products are produced and end up in the oil. These by-products reduce the ability of oil to lubricate the engine and increase the amount of wear on the engine. The oil filter keeps oil deposits, dirt and particulates out of the combustion chamber where they can cause damage. Some vehicles can go as many as 7,000 miles before an oil and filter change is necessary, depending on the type of vehicle. Generally, an oil and filter change should be done every three months or 3,000 miles. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations. 
5. Change your air filter.  The air filter ensures that dust and dirt from the air doesn’t contaminate your engine. If the filter is clogged or dirty it can cause loss of power to the engine and can lower your gas mileage by as much as 10%. You should check your air filter regularly to ensure it’s not clogged or dirty and change it approximately every six months (more often if you live in a dusty region). 
6. Check your belts and hoses.  A belt or hose failure can cause an overheated engine, loss of power steering, and loss of the electrical charging system. Inspect belts for wear and tension. Inspect hoses for excessive mushiness, excessive hardness, brittleness or cracking.
7. Check your battery.  Vehicle battery posts accumulate corrosion. This happens faster if the battery connections aren’t secure.  To keep your battery operating longer, make sure it’s free of corrosion and that the battery cover is in place and properly anchored. Consider replacing your battery and plugs if they are more than 2 years old. 
8. Check your brakes.  Brake fluid absorbs moisture, and moisture in the brake system is lethal. Because it’s silent, you may never know the damage it’s causing until it’s too late. Replacing brake fluid regularly can prevent costly repairs down the road. Additionally, failure to replace worn brake pads can result in expensive brake rotor service later. A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes checked every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. Some people have their brakes checked when they have their tires rotated, which is a handy way to remember.               
9. Flush your coolant system.  To avoid metal corrosion, have your coolant system thoroughly flushed every two years and replaced with the appropriate antifreeze. Make sure to use the proper coolant mix, check the coolant reservoir monthly, and top it off as needed. Your car will love you for it! 
10. Replace your windshield wipers.  Windshield wipers are the most overlooked and underestimated items on an automobile. Have you ever been caught in a rain or snowstorm with bad wipers…maybe on the highway or a winding road? If you have, you probably know why it’s important to replace your wiper blades on a regular basis. You can’t drive if you can’t see, and anything that impedes vision impedes safety.

Follow these tips.           Fall in love with your car again…and it will love you back for years!

Tags: auto, automobile, battery, belt, brake system, brakes, car, combustion, engine, gas mileage, hose, lubricate, maintenance, oil, overheat, owner's manual, repair, Valentine's Day, vehicle, windshield wiper