Essential Car Maintenance Steps New Drivers Should Follow

Flat tires not only reduce the handling and smoothness of your ride but can also ruin your wheels and decrease your fuel efficiency. This makes checking your tire pressure a simple yet crucial activity when it comes to vehicle maintenance. Refer to your user manual to see the recommended tire pressure for your car and remember to also check the pressure of your spare tire as you never know when you might need to use it.

In addition to oil, there are several fluids that play a major role in the operation of your car. These include brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. Make sure to schedule regular services with your auto shop or perhaps do your own fluid checks. Also, keep a lookout for fluid leaks even when you've already been doing regular maintenance. Most leaks can be identified by their color and texture.

Because oil is what keeps your engine in working condition, having old, dirty oil can cause significant damage to your car. For this reason, you need to ensure that the oil in your car is fresh and new. Allstate recommends checking your oil once a month and checking your user manual to see what oil your car should take. If you're unsure about how to change the oil yourself, then take your car to an auto shop. No matter who changes the oil, it's important to determine whether you want to use synthetic or non-synthetic oil as well as the oil viscoticy.

Although many cars come with battery warranties lasting five or six years, it's not unheard of for a battery to need replacement after as little as two to three years. This makes it imperative for you to keep checking up on your car battery's voltage. After all, the last thing you want is to be left stranded in the middle of nowhere should your car unexpectedly pack it in. You can check your battery at the same time that you change your oil or perhaps get the assistance of your go-to auto repair shop.

Are your windshield wipers screeching as they reach across your windscreen? Perhaps they aren't moving as smoothly as they used to? Either way, it's probably time to replace them. Not only do old wipers not clean your windshield properly anymore, but they can result in the wearing down of the glass itself. A good rule of thumb is to replace your windscreen wipers at the start of the rainy season each year so that you can avoid this issue in the future.

Air pressure is not the only thing that needs to be checked in the tire department — you also need to check on how much they are wearing down. Because not every tire wears down at the same rate, it is a good idea to get your tires rotated. By doing so, you can even out their deterioration, thereby extending your wheels' lifespans. What's more, if they wear out around the same time, you can get all four tires swapped out, which is cheaper than buying each tire individually.