Top 10 Preventative Maintenance Tips For Kansas City Drivers

January 13th, 2020 by

Kansas City Drivers — Preventative Maintenance Tips

At Auto Now at 79th & Wornall, we are a Buy Here Pay Here dealership that offers car financing for top used vehicles. With Buy Here Pay Here financing, you don’t have to go to a bank to secure your funding.

We want your vehicle to last a lifetime. For drivers in all areas of the country, there are preventative maintenance steps that should be taken on a regular basis for your vehicle’s health, and this is also true for drivers in Kansas City. If you own a used car in Kansas City, here is a list of the top ten preventative maintenance tips for your car that will keep it in top condition.

1 – Change Your Oil and Oil Filter

Changing your oil and oil filter on a regular basis is probably the most important regular preventative maintenance step that you must take.

How often do you change your oil? Following the directions of your vehicle’s manufacturer handbook is the first consideration. Most will recommend changing your oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. Keeping your oil clean and fresh is important for winter and cold weather driving as it makes starting your vehicle much easier.

As a rule, synthetic oil is a superior choice for use in your vehicle. Synthetic oil offers better engine protection for your vehicle and can even help to prolong the life of your car’s engine. Generally, synthetic oil need to be changed much less often – every 10,000 to 15,000 miles – and as such, despite the higher price, it will cost the average driver less than an additional $100 per year. This makes synthetic oil the wise choice for most drivers.

2 – Check Your Fluids

Having all the vehicle fluids checked is something that most vehicle servicers will do as a part of the oil change service. Brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission or transaxle fluid, windshield washer solvent, and antifreeze are all items that should be checked whenever you get your oil changed, if not more often.

You should have the lubrication of the chassis and suspension checked to help extend the life of the moving parts.

For cold weather and winter driving, it is important to make sure your engine’s antifreeze is at a level that will protect your engine. Making sure that your vehicle has a full reservoir of windshield washer solvent will help to make your winter driving safer.

All these fluids are important in ensuring the safety and performance of your vehicle.

3 – Make Sure Your Engine Is Properly Tuned

Make sure that your mechanic checks your spark plugs and fuel injectors on a regular basis. Fouled spark plugs and clogged fuel injectors will dramatically affect your vehicle’s performance and fuel economy.

Good spark plugs and fuel injectors will also provide safety when you need full power and acceleration when driving. In winter weather, they will help to keep your vehicle starting easily.

4 – Inspect Your Engine Belts

Make sure that the belts that make all those different systems work properly including checking that fan belts, power steering, alternator, and air conditioning belts don’t have cracks, missing drive sections, excessive wear, or stretches.

Some manufacturers suggest replacing belts every two years. Check your owner’s manual for any recommendations for your particular vehicle. You will want to make sure that your alternator is properly charging your battery, especially during the winter months, to keep your vehicle starting without problems.

5 – Check Your Tires

Check your tires for tread wear and tread depth. Make sure you do not have any unusual wear patterns on your tires and that there is enough tread left on your tires so that you can stop your car efficiently.

You should also make sure that your tires are properly inflated, which will get you proper fuel economy and optimal tire life.

6 – Battery Maintenance

If your battery is more than a few years old, you should check with your mechanic or vehicle servicer to see if you need to replace it. Battery cables and posts should be inspected regularly for corrosion and should be cleaned regularly.

If your vehicle does not have a maintenance-free battery, make sure that the fuel levels in the battery are correct. The last thing that you will want to deal with on a cold winter morning is a dead battery.

7 – Windshield Wipers

Check those windshield wipers for cracks or tears, and make sure that they are making proper contact with your windshield. Most experts suggest changing them once every year. You may also want to consider windshield wipers designed for snow and ice removal during those winter months. You for sure want to be able to see when those trucks splash ice and mud onto your windshield.

8 – Air Filtration

Clean your air filter on a regular basis to make sure it is not clogged up. Most experts suggest changing your air filter every two or three oil changes. Making sure your air filter is not clogged will increase your engine efficiency and fuel economy.

9 – Lighting

You should have your lighting system checked at regular intervals. Make sure that headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and taillights are all working properly. Make sure that any bulbs that are burned out or weak are replaced promptly. It is not safe to drive with any of these not working properly, and promptly replacing them may also save you from receiving a costly traffic ticket.

10 – Brakes

People usually do not think about their car’s brakes until it becomes obvious that there is a problem. Most recent vehicles come equipped with disc brakes. Your mechanic or vehicle servicer should check the rotors, pads, and calipers to make sure they are not worn or in need of repair. Brakes are typically good for 40,000 to 60,000 miles depending on your driving style, but have them checked on a regular basis can save you from more costly repairs or accidents.

If you follow the above steps on a regular basis, you should keep your car running efficiently and safely for driving in the Kansas City area.

Posted in Maintenance, Service, Tech