Car Maintenance Tips

The most basic yet important aspect of car maintenance is keeping it clean. Here are a few tips:

• Clean the tires and rims before the body using a different cloth so you don’t scratch the vehicles paint with debris from the wheels.
• Use good tire car cleaning products with a stiff brush even if you do not have whitewalls. A good product will remove brake dust which often blackens front rims.
• Do not use household cleaners. Only car cleaning products will not strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish.
• To avoid scratching the finish, rinse the cloth in clean water frequently.
• Clean the rear last since it usually has the largest accumulation of dirt and grime which can contaminate the cloth.
• Wash door jams once a month.
• Make sure when doing the body to rinse thoroughly from top to bottom including the wheels and fenders.
• To rinse, remove the spray nozzle from the hose. Starting at the roof, let the water cascade down the surface of the vehicle.
• Avoid water spotting by drying with a chamois or other car cleaning products made for this specific task.
• Once the surface is clean and dry, apply the wax following the manufacturer’s directions. It is recommended to avoid waxing in direct sunlight.

Car Maintenance Schedule

The key to a long lasting vehicle is regular maintenance. Create a car maintenance schedule and stick to it. Here are some care maintenance tips to help:

• Do monthly checks for tire inflation and condition, lights, check engine light on, window washer fluid and cleaning.
• Do 3 month checks for automatic transmission fluid, battery and cables, belts, engine air filter, oil and filter, exhaust, fuel filter, power steering fluid and hoses.
• Do 6 month checks on chassis lubrication, polish and wiper blades.
• Do 12 month checks on brakes, cabin air filter, coolant, spark plugs and steering and suspension.
• Following a car maintenance schedule and dealing with the car maintenance costs that come along with them will save you money in the long run on car repairs.

Adding regular car washing to your car maintenance schedule does not add much to your car maintenance costs. In the end when you are ready to sell your vehicle a clean car will be a huge selling factor.

Read the article on vehicle depreciation next and then fill out your car loan application here at Car Loans Canada today!