When you purchase a car, you are making an investment. You want to protect your investment, right? If that’s the case, then you’ll want to keep up with it’s maintenance. Many accidents out there have to do with people not keeping up with their car maintenance. You can avoid these issues, and you don’t have to be a mechanic to do it!

As you set aside some time and take the proper effort to take care of your car, you will find that you get a lot more life out of it. In addition to that you will enjoy better gas mileage, extended tire life, and avoid more problems overall. When you do the routine checks, they tell you about small problems that could become big problems. This will save you a lot of money down the road!

Here are some top tips to remember that will help you give your car the best care:

Start with the basics! Look in your glove box and see if you can find your car’s manual. If you can, take a look and stay as close to the guidelines as you can. This is especially true with the time frames for tune ups and oil changes.

Oil and oil filters need to be changed periodically. Some cars require that these be changed out every 3000 miles while some other manuals will allow longer times between these changes.

Each and every week play it safe by verifying the fluid levels. Brakes, oil, transmission, radiator, power steering, all of these are important to keeping your car on the road. In addition to these fluids, always check to make sure you have an adequate amount of windshield wiper fluid.

You should check your tires once a month, though you should really check the tire pressure once per week, making sure that they are within specifications. If they are low, then your vehicles is not operating at it’s maximum fuel efficiency.

In addition, make sure that you have enough tread left. There could also be tires or tacks lodged, and this may cause the tire to leak. Always make sure the tires are nice and neat! Then you will want to make sure that the hubcaps are on tight and the lug nuts are fastened securely.

Tune ups should be performed as part of your car’s routine, scheduled maintenance. Problems with spark plugs or fuel injectors can lower your gas mileage up to 35%. Many people try to postpone a tune up, especially if the car appears to be running fine. However it is only when you take it in to the garage that the engine can be thoroughly inspected for any problems or misfiring.

Chassis lubrication is required for all cars. This maintenance procedure helps keep the suspension operating at an optimum level. Most shops that change oil perform chassis lubrication as a part of their work checklist.

Keep an eye on your battery, especially the cables and posts. If you notice a build up of corroded material it can be cleaned off with a wire brush. Making sure that the connections are secure is an easy task and can mean the difference in a car that starts and one with a dead battery.

Make sure that you swap out your wiper blades annually, and make sure each month that they are not cracked. You should also apply a coat of Rain-X to your windshield every two weeks.

Do not forget to check your headlights, turn signals and tail lights at least once a week to make certain that there are no burned out bulbs. This is a preventive measure that can help you avoid accidents on the road.

So long as you follow this advice, they will become a matter of course to you. Taking care of your car actively will keep it running nicely, and keep you on the road.

John Harvey shows car dealers how to promote their services with online video: Sacramento Chevy and Honda Sacramento