10 New Year’s Car Care Resolutions
Resolve to take better care of your car or truck this year. Our 10 New Year’s car care resolutions will help extend your vehicle’s life and protect its performance in 2015 and beyond!
Car care resolutions:
1. Schedule bi-annual checkups
Seasonal tune-ups and maintenance maximize your car or truck?s fuel efficiency and performance.
Bonus: a trained technician can spot potential problems early, nipping costly repairs in the bud.
2. Keep the interior clean!
Spilled drinks, food crumbs, and mud make a vehicle look ? and smell ? bad. Toss your trash out after every commute. Clean messes promptly before stains and odour set in. Vacuum dirt before it abrades carpet and seat fibres.
3. Go for a car wash.
Don?t wait for someone to scrawl ?Clean me? in the dust on your car or truck window. Regular car care includes cleaning and protecting its finish.
4. Learn to detail your car.
Automated car washes and light vacuuming are good for maintenance, but every so often your car deserves a nice, deep clean, inside and out. This is especially true if you want to protect your vehicle’s resale value.?
5. Check your tire pressure.
Driving with the correct tire pressure improves your vehicle?s safety and gas mileage, while extending tire life. Refer to the sticker on the inside of your driver side door, and add air as needed. Aim to check it at every other fill-up.
6. Check your oil.
If you?re checking tire pressure at every other fill up, what should you do the rest of the time? Check your oil,?obviously. Top it up as needed so your engine is always well lubricated.
7. Schedule regular oil changes.
The standard used to be complete oil change every 5,000 kilometres, but improved oil formulas and lower emission fuels, mean this is no longer the rule. Check your vehicle manual and schedule changes accordingly. Or if your feeling handy and want to do it yourself, check our our DIY oil change instructions.
8. Stay on top of fluids.
Staying hydrated is probably on your New Year?s fitness resolutions but it?s crucial for your car too. Check your car?s fluids monthly (mark it on your calendar), and stay on top of oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluids.
9. Rotate your tires.
Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb, but check your owner?s manual for a vehicle-specific recommendation.
10. Heed your lights.
If you?re the type who ignores the ?check engine? light (?It always does that!?), resolve to bring your car in for service at the first sign instead. Let a mechanic determine what?s up ? and fix that light for you, if it truly is wonky.
Keep these ten tips in mind all year round to ensure you’re motoring along smoothly and saving your car from costly repairs.
