If there were things you could to do maintain your vehicle that would help prevent costly issues down the road, wouldn’t you want to know? We sure would, which is why we compiled some useful advice for preventative vehicle maintenance that can save you time and money down the road!

Do Your Own Inspection: When you get to know your vehicle, it will help you be aware when something’s off. Part of getting to know your vehicle is doing your own regular inspections. Some of the things you’ll do include checking your lights, checking your tires’ air pressure and treads, check fluid levels, and look for any other potential issues.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers: Has your windshield started getting streaky? Your windshield wipers might need to be replaced! This is something you can do yourself and it can make for a safer driver with better visibility.

Have Your Tires Rotated and Have Your Alignment Checked: While it might cost you some money to have your tires rotated and your alignment checked, it will ultimately help your tires last much longer – and we all know how expensive tires can be!

Keep the Inside and Outside of Your Vehicle Clean: A clean car not only looks great, but it helps maintain a vehicle’s value and you can get more money for it in the long run if it’s in better condition.

While cleaning some parts of your car is purely for aesthetic purposes, there are also some cleaning habits that actually keep your car in better shape.

One example? Removing salt from the exterior of your vehicle which can lead to rust and damage the car’s finish over time.

Here are a few more vehicle maintenance guidelines to help keep your car in its best condition and to save you money on costly repairs:

 

  • Change the automatic transmission fluid at least every two years or 24,000 miles
  • Have the timing belt replaced between 60,000 and 90,000 miles
  • If your car has a carburetor, have the fuel filter replaced every year. For vehicles with fuel injection, it should be replaced every two years.