Though regularly checking your car may seem tedious, it ultimately saves you money and helps you stay safe. As you work to keep your car in good condition, you’ll avoid accidents and injuries and avoid the major costs of engine failure, brake damage, and other costly repairs. By performing these 8 small car checks on a regular basis, you can ensure that your car runs smoothly and safely: 1. Oil You should change your oil and oil filter regularly. Mechanics recommend changing the oil every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, but at the very least, you should change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. Be sure to regularly check your oil, and maintain it between the minimum and maximum fill lines. 2. Air Filter Checking your air filter regularly costs very little, but it can save you a lot on fuel consumption. Many locations for car maintenance in Roswell can check your air filter for free when you bring your car in for an oil change. You should check your air filter monthly and change it when less than 50 percent of the filter lets light through when held up to a bright light. 3. Transmission Fluid Your transmission fluid ensures that your car changes gears smoothly and effectively, which keeps you in control of the vehicle. Be sure to check your transmission fluid every month and change the fluid every 3 years or 36,000 miles. 4. Brakes Regular brake checks can ensure that you stay safe as you drive. If you hear screeching noises as you brake, that’s a sign that your brake pads are getting old and worn out, and you should have a professional replace them. You should also check your brake fluid every time you get an oil change and change it every 2 years. 5. Alignment If you notice your steering wheel shaking as you accelerate, it may be a sign that your tires are out of alignment. Bad alignment can affect your steering and handling, so you should have your tires realigned by a professional quickly before the problem can get worse. 6. Antifreeze Especially if you live in a cold place, you need to check on your car’s antifreeze to ensure that you won’t be stranded come winter. Antifreeze is used to cool your car’s engine and protect it from freezing during cold-weather months. Antifreeze also helps to keep your car’s cabin warm. You should check your antifreeze twice a year, once before summer and once before winter. Change the antifreeze if it has a brown tint or bits of rust. 7. Tire Pressure and Tread You should ensure that your tires are always properly inflated to the correct pressure. You can easily do this at home or when you go to the gas station. Check your pressure weekly or at least monthly, and inflate as necessary. When you check your tire pressure you should also take a look at your tire tread. Worn out and shredded tires are dangerous and can lead to sliding and tire blowouts. To test your tire’s wear, stick a penny between your tread, placing Lincoln's head down first. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head on the penny, then it’s time to buy new tires. 8. Lights When the lights don’t function on your car, it’s dangerous not only for you, but for other drivers as well. Regularly check that all of your lights are working properly, and be quick to replace them when they're not. Failing to do so can lead to ticket at best and a serious accident at worst. These minor checks are often free or inexpensive at your local shop for car maintenance in Roswell. Stay safe, and save yourself from large future expenses by performing these checks regularly.
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