When it comes to avoiding car accidents, there’s no magic formula to prevent it from happening. However, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce your risk of an accident. For instance, performing routine maintenance can help prevent incidents, such as tire blow outs or brake failure, that could lead to a car accident. So, check out these tips for practicing routine maintenance that can help keep you safe.
Routine Maintenance: Why, When, and What to Check
Review Your Owner’s Manual
Every vehicle comes with an extensive owner’s manual, pages and pages thick. While reading this little book is certainly not entertaining, it can provide you with nearly everything you need to know about your car’s maintenance requirements.
For instance, it will give you time intervals for how often you should have things checked. In addition, it should tell you what type of oil, and parts, to use when servicing your vehicle. Lastly, it will also inform you as to what the alerts on your car are saying. Most cars use symbols and lights to signal for maintenance. While some are easy to figure out, you may need to look back at your manual for others.
Change Your Oil
One of the most important habits of routine maintenance is your oil change. The oil in your vehicle is essential to the health and lifespan of your engine. It keeps the parts of your engine from rubbing together and grinding down, but it can only do this when the oil is clean. Therefore, you want to be sure to change your oil and filter on a regular basis. Depending on your vehicle, your engine may require a certain type of oil. So, you’ll want to refer back to your owner’s manual to know what kind.
Check Your Tires Regularly
Certainly, checking your tires on a regular basis is an important part of routine maintenance. Once a month, you should examine your tires for wear and tear. Make sure the traction is still good and you don’t see any holes or tears that could cause a leak. Then, check your tire pressure to make sure they have the right amount of air. You may need to look back at your owner’s manual to know just how much air they require. This practice can help prevent blowouts and accidents that result from a lack of tire traction.
In short, routine maintenance can help keep your car running as long as possible, in the best shape possible. Furthermore, it can alert you to any problems and help reduce your chance of an accident.