Simple Car Care Habits Anyone Can Keep
You do not need to be a mechanic to take good care of a car.
I enjoy cars, but I am not a mechanic. Over the years I have found that a handful of simple habits keep a car running well, looking good and holding up longer. None of them take much time.
Check the tires
Tires are the only thing connecting the car to the road, and they are easy to neglect. I check the pressure about once a month and before long trips, and I keep an eye on tread wear. Properly inflated tires handle better, last longer and help with efficiency.
Follow the maintenance schedule
The owner’s manual is boring reading, but the maintenance schedule in it is there for a reason. Staying on top of the recommended service, whatever that looks like for your car, prevents a lot of bigger and more expensive problems later.
Wash it more than you think
Near the coast, salt air and sea spray are hard on paint and on the underside of a car. Florida sun, love bugs and summer storms do not help either. Regular washing, including the undercarriage now and then, keeps things from building up. A coat of wax or sealant a few times a year adds protection from the sun.
Protect the interior from the sun
Here, a car parked in the sun becomes an oven. A windshield sunshade helps keep the interior cooler and protects the dashboard and seats from fading and cracking over time.
Listen to the car
New noises, vibrations, warning lights or changes in how the brakes feel are the car telling you something. I have learned not to ignore them. Getting something checked early is almost always easier than waiting.
Keep a small kit in the trunk
A few basics live in my trunk year-round: a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables or a portable jump starter, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, water and a phone charger. In hurricane season I am a little more careful about keeping the tank or battery from running low. None of it is exciting, but on the day you need it, you are glad it is there.
Keep it tidy
A clean, uncluttered car is just more pleasant to drive. I try to clear out the week’s accumulation every weekend. It takes five minutes and makes Monday morning a little better.
That is really all there is to it. A little attention on a regular basis keeps a car feeling good for years, whatever you drive.
Views expressed here are my own and do not represent the views of my employer. Content is for general information only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.