10 BASIC CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME CAR OWNER

Buying your own car is always a special feeling, regardless of the purpose of buying it. There is a lot of thought and money invested in the car purchase, whether it is a new or used one. After the investment, taking care of your car is mandatory. For first-time owners, car maintenance could be unfamiliar territory. Due to this investment, no one would want to make the slightest mistake regarding auto car care.

Auto Care becomes important if one expects to keep it running in better condition. To keep the car running without performance hiccups, one needs to carry out regular maintenance at Quality Auto and body. This is where basic car maintenance tips can be helpful.

Here are a few tips that will help in the process of maintaining your car:

• Refer to the owner's manual: The owner’s manual is a great help for car maintenance. The manual has item-wise information about your car. If you don’t have a hard copy of the manual, you can go online and visit the manufacturer's website to download it. The manual has things like child safety, security, remote control, keys, fuel, specification, driving aid, car care, refueling, and much more. You will be surprised to learn that most of the auto car care tips such as changing a flat tyre, installing a baby seat, or unlocking a locked door, can be solved by referring to this manual.

• Keep checking tyre pressure: Car tyres are one of the main components that keep a car moving. Incorrect tyre pressure can reduce the life of tyres, and can cause wear and tear or even tyre bursts. It is important to have the recommended amount of air (or nitrogen) in the tyres by Quality Auto and body . These days there are simple and inexpensive devices to check the tyre pressure at home. Use these devices, in addition to checking for cracks.

• Change engine and oil filter by Quality Auto and body: There are multiple moving parts in the car that need lubricant to function smoothly. This is where engine oil and oil filters come into the picture. Oil lubricates moving parts and absorbs the heat created due to friction. Moreover, an oil filter keeps the oil clean from contamination. Search for an auto care center near me to get an oil change service, or you can do it at home if you know how to. Here’s how one can change the oil and oil filter of a car:

1. Refer to the user manual to locate the oil drain plug of the car and remove the old oil.

2. Replace the oil plug as shown in the owner’s manual and remove the oil filter.

3. Before installing a new oil filter, lubricate it with fresh oil.

4. Pour new oil and make sure that you fill the required amount of oil that suits your car type.

5. Place the cap and turn on the engine.

6. Check if there should be no leakage, if there is, shut off the engine and wait for a few minutes.

7. Check the oil level with the help of a dipstick, and add more oil if required.

• Keep the engine clean: The engine is the heart of the car and needs extra care. Even if you are using clean fuel, you should also clean it externally on a regular interval basis. If there is any leakage along with debris and dust on the surface, then it is a matter of concern and can damage your car’s engine. Visit Quality Auto and body to get it checked.

• Keep an eye for faulty spark plug as an auto care point: Your car will only start if the spark plug is in working condition. The good news is that it can be easily judged if the spark plug is faulty or not. Here are a few instances that will help you to identify a faulty spark plug:

1.** Issues with starting the car:** When your car has a faulty spark plug, you will find yourself struggling to start the car. You have to turn the key in the ignition several times before it actually starts. 2. Dip in mileage: You will notice that the car's mileage has dropped even when everything is working fine. At this time, you should consider changing the spark plug. 3. Increased vibrations and noise: This usually happens when your car is idling. 4. Uneven acceleration: If your car has a faulty spark plug, you will notice reduced acceleration, and it can be uneven.

• Keep interiors clean for auto care: Use a simple vacuum to clean the interior of the car. There are several other items as well such as a blob of scented slime to clean the tricky places of the car.

• Carry out battery maintenance: Disconnect the battery and clean the contacts of the battery with the help of a brush. It will help to prolong its life.

• Check brake fluid: Make sure that brake fluid is present in sufficient amounts. Also check its color, if it is dark in color replace the braking fluid.

• **Maintain fuel economy: **The auto care secret is that maintaining a car on a regular basis will help to retain the mileage. Due to this, maintain average speed and don’t load your car with heavy weights.

• Replace cabin air filter: For better auto car care, replace the cabin's air filter regularly to ensure clean flow and proper cooling of the air inside your car.

To conclude, consider buying car insurance as well which will safeguard your car financially in case of accidents or damage. Although first-time car owners may find auto care a daunting task, all these tips will keep your car in good shape.