Safe and attentive driving is probably the best measure for avoiding car accidents. However, sometimes the most cautious drivers end up in a collision. This can be the fault of other drivers or perhaps a defect with the car itself. To minimize the risk of defect-related car accidents, one of the best preventative measures a driver can take is proper vehicle maintenance. Many people fail to provide their automobile with proper upkeep. Getting into a habit of regular car maintenance can not only improve the safety of your vehicle, it will make the car last much longer. Below are some tips for at-home vehicle maintenance.
Check Your Oil
This one’s easy. Checking and changing your oil is one of the most important things you can do to keep your engine running smoothly. Do this roughly every 3,000 miles. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, take the car into a quick-service station. It is rarely a large expense.
Change Your Air Filters
Doing this yourself will save you time and money, so don’t bother taking the car into a mechanic. Air filters often cost only around $10 and changing them takes no more than fifteen minutes. Changing your air filters will help keep your engine ventilated and free of debris. Be careful when purchasing your air filter that you buy the correct replacement filter for your vehicle.
Keep up on Brake Fluid
Brake fluid needs to be changed roughly every two years. Properly maintaining your brakes is essential to staying safe out on the road. There are several tutorials online to teach you how to change your brake fluid yourself, but service facilities have brake-flushing machines that do the job really well. Make sure not to skimp on the cheap stuff–get good quality brake fluid to make sure that your brakes are working well.
Car Wash
This one may seem obvious, but keeping your car clean can actually help keep you safe. Keeping dirt and dust off of the windows helps improve visibility, and keeping your headlights/brake lights free of filth makes you more visible to other vehicles on the road. Not to mention, nobody ever feels bad leaving the car wash in a bright shiny ride!
Windshield Wipers
Changing your windshield wipers is an easy DIY project. Windshield wipers are inexpensive and can be found at most auto-care, superstores, and hardware stores. Making sure that your windshield wipers are functional is essential to safe driving.
Courtesy of…
8 DIY Car Maintenance Tips You Can Handle – Checklist
https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-change-your-brake-fluid.html
https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/articles/top-ten-car-care-tips/