Maintaining Your Car Will Make It Last Longer
by: Matthew C. Keegan
Regular maintenance of your vehicle will extend its life perhaps well beyond what you or others may think is its normal lifespan. Today?s cars can easily top the 100,000 mile mark with many cars on the road exceeding 150,000, 200,000, even 250,000 miles. Ask owners of high mileage cars how they got to that point and most will point to their own rigorous and disciplined maintenance schedules as being the chief factor. By carefully and diligently following a maintenance schedule, you can extend your vehicle?s life too. Let?s take a look at several important maintenance steps you must take in order to avoid costly repairs and to help you hold onto your vehicle longer.
Regular oil changes ? The 30 minute oil change specialists recommend that you change your oil every 3,000 miles or three months, while some manufacturers state you only need to change your oil once every 7,500 miles or six months. Opt for more frequent changes than lengthy manufacturer recommended intervals, but change your oil [and oil filter] every 3,000 miles if your car is subject to hard driving.
Change your air filter ? Your engine will run better and cleaner if you change your air filter at least once per year; more so if you do a lot of ?stop and go? driving or put on many more miles per year than average.
Rotate your tires ? Evenly wearing tires will help ensure that your car stops properly and stays on the road. Have your brakes and shocks inspected too to avoid potential handling and control issues.
Transmission fluid ? Your transmission isn?t guaranteed to run forever. Change your fluid at manufacturer recommended intervals, generally once every 30 or 60 thousand miles. Neglect it and face costly repairs and potentially fatal [to the car] consequences.
Drain the radiator ? Periodically draining the radiator and replacing the antifreeze will help flush out rust and dirt particles that can clog up your cooling system. When the coolant?s rust inhibitors get used up then corrosion will show up within the radiator as well as in the engine block
Change the spark plugs ? Some manufacturers have installed long life spark plugs meaning that changing spark plugs once every 60 or even 90 thousand miles or more is a possibility. Keep in mind that the longer your spark plugs sit in place, the more difficult it may be to remove them later. Optimally, replacing your spark plugs once every 30 thousand miles is ideal.
Examine your exhaust system ? Your muffler, catalytic converter, and remaining exhaust system parts can wear out. A poorly functioning exhaust system saps your engine of needed power.
Wash and wax ? Yes, your car may mechanically run well, but if the body falls apart, then what do you have left? Regular washings and a once a year wax job should do the trick.
Other stuff ? Replace your battery, fuel filter, PCV valve, belts, and hoses as needed and every other part that wears out. Sensors come and sensors go; usually you will only have to replace your knock or oxygen sensors if and when a problem arises.
Ultimately, refer to your manufacturer?s repair book for guidelines as to when to perform maintenance. The key to extending your vehicle?s life is in doing the maintenance when needed to head off costly repair bills. Otherwise you will be neglecting your car to the point where it ?dies? prematurely.
You can extend the life of your vehicle. If you aren?t up to the task, hire a qualified mechanic to service your vehicle regularly.
About The Author
Matt Keegan writes for The Parts Bin, a retailer of high quality K&N filters: [http://www.thepartsbin.com/kn-filters.html] EBC brakes: [http://www.thepartsbin.com/ebc-brake-pads.html],
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Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
by: Gregory Ashton
Today, buying a used car is as important as buying a new car. This is because the growing necessity and demand for cars is extremely important in an individual?s everyday life, especially if the daily activities require a lot of commuting and traveling.
So, buying used cars can be very feasible especially to those who have limited budgets. Actually, buying a used car, say, 2 to 4-year old cars will definitely save an individual as much as 25% to 50% when compared to buying a new one.
But, used cars are not created equal or they are not being maintained on the same level. Hence, it is important to know the proper way to choose used cars and the details to look for when buying one.
With all the many tips that are being offered these days, checking the condition of the used car is the best tip ever.
Here?s a list of the things to be checked before getting...
Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Atv tires > Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Buying A Used Car? Know The Basics
Buying A Used Car? Know The Basics
by: Gregory Ashton
If you feel purchasing a new car is tricky, then buying a second hand car can be quite trickier. But don't fret just yet--with these guidelines to keep you on track, that used car could be one of the sweetest deals you've ever had.
Where to Look
Snoop around. It pays to be on the lookout for owners wanting to shift to a newer model, and thus wanting to sell the car of your dreams. This is where your friends and family come in. Aside from referrals, they could more or less ensure that the price is reasonable and the car's ownership history is satisfactory.
Asking the Right Questions
Why are the owners letting the car go? Make sure that they are not selling due to any major problems.
How long have they owned the car? Given proper maintenance, a five to seven year-old car would generally be in good condition. What repairs have been done, or are currently needed? How's...
Buying A Used Car? Know The Basics
Atv tires > Buying A Used Car? Know The Basics
Shop Smart for Scooters
Shop Smart for Scooters
by: Mitch Johnson
As you become more involved and knowledgeable about scooters you learn that a consumer?s selection is far from limited in the area.
Though having a diverse selection of any product is usually looked as a positive, sorting through the wide range of scooter manufacturers, brands, styles and models to find the right one for your intended use can become a task that is look at negatively.
For this reason you should be thankful to have access to the internet so your search for a scooter can be shortened.
Online scooter retailers and personal sites dedicated to a person?s scooter hobby are excellent places to find general information about a specific type of scooter because you can easily sort through the information to find only what you need.
Shopping at scooter shops can have you running across town, comparing the deals and types at each store but using internet sources allows...
Shop Smart for Scooters
Atv tires > Shop Smart for Scooters
Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
by: Gregory Ashton
Today, buying a used car is as important as buying a new car. This is because the growing necessity and demand for cars is extremely important in an individual?s everyday life, especially if the daily activities require a lot of commuting and traveling.
So, buying used cars can be very feasible especially to those who have limited budgets. Actually, buying a used car, say, 2 to 4-year old cars will definitely save an individual as much as 25% to 50% when compared to buying a new one.
But, used cars are not created equal or they are not being maintained on the same level. Hence, it is important to know the proper way to choose used cars and the details to look for when buying one.
With all the many tips that are being offered these days, checking the condition of the used car is the best tip ever.
Here?s a list of the things to be checked before getting...
Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Atv tires > Best Condition Check-Up Of A Used Car: When Old Gets Better
Can Your Customers Pay By Electronic Check?
Can Your Customers Pay By Electronic Check?
by: David Bell
What's the Real Story About Electronic Checks?
Accepting electronic checks is essential to any business, and should not be overlooked. As many as 20% of America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe users pay for their internet access by electronic check.
Are you curious about how some web-sites take checks? Have you ever paid your electric bill or cable TV bill by check over the phone? Have...
credit report
Atv tires > Can Your Customers Pay By Electronic Check?
mortgage Atv tires Maintaining Your Car Will Make It Last Longer
Atv tires student loans Maintaining Your Car Will Make It Last Longer
Best Recipes: Marble Cheesecake
Best Recipes: Marble Cheesecake
by: Donna Monday
Swirls, swirls, delicious swirls of chocolate and cheese makes a beautiful desert and a tasty one too.
Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons margarine, melted
Filling
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
? cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 1-oz square unsweetened chocolate, melted
Directions
Preheat...
Best Recipes: Marble Cheesecake Atv tires
Atv tires > Best Recipes: Marble Cheesecake
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