Keeping Your Car Running Right With Proper Care

A car is one of the things most people depend on every day but are all to often neglected when it comes to proper care and maintenance. If you want your car to start and run when you need it to, giving it the appropriate care and service is critical. Here are some essential car care items you should consider to make your car dependable. 

Oil Changes and Lubrication

One of the most essential things you can do to help extend the life of your car is changing the oil regularly. The oil provides lubrication to the engine, but it also carries small particles of metal to the oil filter so they can be separated from the oil and do not build up in parts of the engine. 

Oil also plays a role in cooling your engine by reducing the friction between the moving parts as the engine is running. After a while, the heat begins to break down the viscosity of the oil, and it becomes less and less effective. Changing the oil and the filter every three to five thousand miles is the best way to combat the dirt and thermal breakdown in the oil and keep your engine running smooth and clean. 

Brake Service

Another area often overlooked is the maintenance of the brake system of your car. The wear on the brakes can be different from one car to another, and the way you drive can also affect them. People who spend a lot of time in traffic often go through brake pads faster than someone who drives longer distances on the highway without a lot of stopping. 

It is a good idea to get in the habit of having the brakes checked when you take your car in for an oil change. The tech can pull the tires off the vehicle while it is on the lift and check the brake pads as well as the rest of the system while they are under the car. It does not take long, and most shops will check the brakes free of charge and let you know if you need to replace the pads or if there is a problem before the car breaks down. 

Checking the Fluids

It is vital to check all the fluids under the hood regularly. Checking things like your brake fluid, transmission oil, and the coolant in the cooling system can all offer early warnings of problems with the car. Low brake fluid might indicate a leak in the system that needs correcting, while coolant that is oily or milky could point the technician to a head gasket issue. 

Taking care of your car is the best way to ensure that it will take care of you in the long term. For more information, contact companies such as Action  Transmission.

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