9 Car Maintenance Mistakes You Should Avoid

Delaying or skipping recommended service for your car is a bad idea. Preventative maintenance will increase your vehicle's life and many years of great service to you and your family. Unfortunately, life sometimes gets in the way and we fail to do everything necessary to maintain our vehicles as stated in our owner's manual. Here are some of the top maintenance mistakes that many people make and ways you can avoid them. 

1. Check your Air Filter

A faulty air filter can cause many different problems, such as problems with your A/C and causing you to breathe unclean air while in your vehicle. Air filters are also responsible for providing air flow to the engine. If your air filter is clogged it can deprive the engine of the air it needs and cause an incorrect fuel-air mixture. This may cause issues with your vehicle's spark plugs and lead to serious engine issues. To ensure you have a functional air filter you should make sure to get it replaced every 12 months or after 12,000 miles - whichever comes first. 

2. Inspect Fluids Regularly

Motor oil is not the only fluid in the car that needs to be checked and changed. There are many other fluids in the car that should be checked, changed, and/or topped off. Engine coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid should all be checked and serviced as recommended by your vehicle's maintenance schedule. Doing this also helps to avoid leaks and keep your vehicle operating properly.

3. Check Tire Pressure Regularly

When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? Looks can be deceiving. Even when tires appear to be properly inflated, they could be low on air. In its simplest form, it might be costing you money from a reduction in gas mileage. Tire pressure also serves as the primary agent in cooling the tire itself. It's easy for tires to lose air pressure from something as simple as hitting a pothole. The weather influences your tire pressure too. Tires lose 1 to 2 lbs. of air pressure for every 10° the temperature drops outside. Check your tire pressure regularly because you never know when it might be low. The last thing you want is change a flat tire on a busy road or be stuck waiting for a truck to come and help you.

4. Get your Tires Rotated and Balanced

Tires wear out and, by paying attention to them, we can extend their lives. It's simple to overlook because you can drive for tens of thousands of miles without getting an alignment or rotating your tires. It might seem like everything is fine, but having misaligned wheels can result in real issues. Your tires could wear unevenly, steering parts can wear out, and a list of other malignancies can occur. There is only one way to be positive that your tires are properly aligned and that is to have your vehicle's alignment checked when having other services performed on your vehicle. If a wheel alignment is recommended, it is in your best interest to have it performed. You should also check your owner's manual and possibly the tire warranty to see how often your tires should be rotated. Most manufacturers recommend that the tires be inspected and rotated every 5,000 miles.

Car maintenance can sometimes be an inconvenience and get in the way of our daily lives. But, having a properly maintained vehicle will help ensure that you don't end up stuck on the side of the road when you could be spending that time on things that are much more enjoyable and safe. Just as we need to check if everything is functioning well within us, so does our vehicles.

5. Clean your Windshields and Replace the Wipers

Windshield wipers wear out over time from use, weather and abuse. Change your wipers as soon as they don't clear the windshield well. As they age, wiper blades will harden and leave streaks, indicating that it's time to change them. All forms of precipitation can severely cut down on your ability to see the road and other vehicles clearly and could become a safety issue. Don't let something as simple as replacing your windshield wipers put you at risk.

6. Change Your Oil

Motor oil and car engine technology has advanced so much over the years that, depending on the recommendations of your vehicle's manufacturers you may be able to go as far as 10,000 miles on single oil change. That's great news because it means less time and money spent taking your vehicle for an oil change. But, this does not mean that oil changes can be skipped. In fact, with these longer intervals between oil changes your chances of causing damage to your vehicle's engine are greater if you miss an oil change. Engines need motor oil to operate properly and without it many things could go wrong, the worst being the engine can seize up and no longer run due to lack of lubrication.

If motor oil is left in an engine for too long, the oil begins to break down, which can lead to nasty deposits of sludge in your engine. Instead of lubricating and cooling the engine parts, the oil sludge can damage the parts, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. Regular oil changes will help to ensure a long engine life.

7. Don't Ignore your Check Engine Light

If the Check Engine light comes on and your car seems to be operating as it normally would you might think, "Everything seems fine, I'll take care of it the next time I go for service." But, if it gets put off one day your car could breakdown. It might be difficult to find the time to have your vehicle seen by a mechanic immediately, but the longer you wait, the more likely the costs for your repairs could be higher. Don't let a minor repair turn into a major expense.

8. Fill Up the Engine Coolant

Many of us have been guilty of this, the car thermostat indicates the engine is overheating and we pull over hoping that it will cool down and we can make it to our destination. An engine generally gets very hot when it runs. It requires a cooling system to avoid overheating. When the system fails the vehicle needs to be stopped immediately. When this happens, turn the car off and call for a tow.

9. Don't Ignore your TPMS Light

If your Tire Pressure Monitoring System light comes on, check your tire pressure (this should include the spare tire as well). It is your warning system letting you know when one or more of your tires are deflated beyond what is considered safe by your vehicle's manufacturer. If this light comes on while you are driving, pull over somewhere safe, preferably your closest open gas station, and verify whether your tire is losing air. Sometimes your TPMS sensor may require replacement. If your TPMS is indicating a loss of air pressure, but when you check your tire is fine, ask about TMPS sensor replacement the next time you're in for service. In addition to the benefits previously mentioned about checking your tire pressure, balanced tires promote even tire wear, resulting in a longer tire life and better fuel economy.