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Common Car Maintenance Mistakes

You be good to your car, and the car is good to you. While this principle holds true in most scenarios, there are a few exceptions. Sometimes in your enthusiasm to treat the car right, you might actually be doing injustice to your car which is in the perfect state.

While there are people who follow the car service schedule meticulously, there are others who wait for the warning lights on their dash to burn out completely. Whether you own the latest technologically advanced car or an old basic one, it is important to give your car the kind of maintenance it deserves.

Here we present to you ten most common car maintenance tips that will help your car enjoy a healthy and long life.

Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation

The air from tyres leak and that's the reason you need to have the occasional checks. Under-inflated tyres consume more fuel. Over-inflated and under-inflated tyres are more prone to quick damage than the correctly inflated ones. Alright, we agree that it is inconvenient to go for frequent tyre pressure check-ups, but how about twice a year? Sounds good, right!

Additionally, the amount of wear and tear on front and rear tyres is different and, should be rotated to even out the effect of the wear and tear. Your owner's manual would provide you with the recommended rotation periods and tyre pressure level.

Wiper Blades

It is best to replace the wiper blades before they start to screech their lungs out. There is not a prescribed time to change the wiper blades. When you notice any kind of wear out in the blades, it is time to change them.

Don't Change A Part Just For the Heck of It

Thanks to modern day technologies, you don't need to fiddle with adjusting the valves or the carburetors. So you are left with the spark plugs. Usually, spark plugs come with a life of about 100,000 miles, so don't just jump at the first opportunity to change them.

Overdose Of Octane

Some octane is good, but an overdose is not. You must never go for octane levels that are higher than the specified engine rate. You cannot enhance the engine power or fuel efficiency by adding higher-than-required octane. While some engines are rated for premium 91 octane fuel, they can also run with the regular 87 octane. It is suggested that you use regular fuel if your daily commute comprises of city driving, and if you have to rev around, use premium fuel.

Oil Change Timing

Once upon a time, it was necessary to change the engine oil every 3,000 miles. But thanks to the advancements in engine technology and lubricants, now you need to change the oil when the schedule calls for it. While some car thirst for oil change at 5,000-mile intervals, some even endure up to 15,000-mile. Another important point is , you should resort to the oil that has been mentioned by your car manufacturer.

Tyres - Wear and Tear

Like everything else, tyres wear out too. While tyre wear-outs greatly depend on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions, any tyre expert will tell you that a five year old tyre is as good as toast. Not that you need to wait for a five year period to change the tyres, other kinds of wear outs should also prompt you to change them. At times, when you cannot be sure of the age of the tyre, you can have your local mechanic read the date code stamped into the sidewall of the tyre.

Dirty Air Filter

Nothing affects the fuel efficiency of your car like a clogged or semi-clogged air filter. Again, there is no prescribed timing for when you should get your air filters checked, but it is recommended that you change your air filter at least once per year. Spending some bucks on changing the air filter than spending big on fuel would sound like a wise choice to most sane people.

Ignoring Your Brakes

Well, everyone who drives a car knows the importance of car brakes. So it becomes necessary that you take your car to the mechanic if you hear any kind of difference in your brake, including sound, feel or response.

Tighten Your Gas Cap

It is not in vain that the Check Engine light is flashing on. In most cases the fuel gap is not closed properly and, it is wiser that you check the cap before you make a call to the dealer. Leaving the fuel cap loose is one of the most common ways of starting off your car's diagnostic system.

The Garage Is for Parking

If you have a garage, you are lucky and you might just want to use it for its rightful purposes. Buying a car is one expensive affair, and you would not want your darling-on-wheels to rot away out in the open. Put your car in the garage and your car can avoid environmental exposure problems.

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