Cleaning, emptying, checking levels, replacing parts ... car maintenance ensures its performance as well as your safety. It is essential to maintain your vehicle and the bill can quickly climb: with a few tips every day, save money and extend the life of your car.
The first years and the first kilometers of a car are not the most expensive. To prevent and limit future expenditure due to repairs, it is better to comply with the technical inspection deadlines at the garage, indicated specifically for each car model. Technical inspection is often recommended every two years.
Without being a mechanic, you can do the liquids and battery checks yourself. Check your car fluids regularly. The oil, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid should be checked every 6 months. If necessary, you can top up the oil and the windshield washer fluid. If necessary, change the oil filter and the wiper blades. Let the professional do the draining, refilling the brake fluid, coolant and air conditioning fluid. Also check your battery, checking its cleanliness, its charge and its voltage: you will then know whether to change or recharge it. Remember to look under the hood: with a flashlight watch for rust, dirt, bare wires, signs of leaks ... and take the opportunity to also check the bodywork and tire wear.
Try the self-service garage, with the help of a mechanic who can teach you how to change your filters, change the oil, change pads ... while greatly saving labor costs.
For vehicle repairs, independent garages are more economical than the garages of major automobile brands. You can also give a helping hand to apprentice mechanics by entrusting your car to a school of mechanics. By paying significantly less, you will also have promoted their professional training.
Once you know a little about mechanics, buying your spare parts online represents a good saving, both in terms of labor and the price of parts. Often, sites also offer a series of tutorials to assemble the piece like a pro.
The rubbers - seals, silent-block ... - hardly support frost, and the plastics are damaged when exposed to high heat. Remember to protect your vehicle from both cold and hot by taking it into the garage, or parking it in a place sheltered from the wind in winter and the sun in summer. Protective covers, car mats, sun visors, windshield protectors ... car accessories are a significant solution.
Car maintenance also involves cleanliness. Wash your car regularly to avoid staining and damaging the bodywork. The mud that settles under the chassis, the salt of the roads in winter, an extended stay at sea ... if your car has a hard life, rinse it with a jet without waiting, passing well below, to fight against corrosion.
Poor driving habits can also affect the longevity of the vehicle. When the engine is still cold, do not go up too fast in revs: you accelerate quietly. On the contrary, once the car has driven well, you can increase the number of revolutions per minute for cleaning. Do not keep your foot on the clutch, limit slippage, and before changing gears, disengage completely.
Covering long journeys is a good way to keep your car in good health: by driving for a long time, the engine is cleaned, and the battery is charged at best.
Don't forget your air conditioning. Every month, run your air conditioning for at least 5 minutes to maintain proper lubrication. If the engine gets too hot when you are driving, turn off the air conditioning instead: it increases the engine temperature.
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