How to Keep Your Car Running Strong

Table of Contents

Introduction

We rely on our cars to get us where we need to go. Whether it’s a quick trip to the grocery store or a cross-country road trip, our vehicles can be an important part of our lives. However, sometimes they break down when we least expect them too. This can be frustrating and inconvenient—not only do you have to figure out how to get somewhere else but also what the problem is with your car and how much it will cost you to fix it. Fortunately, there are things you can do beforehand that will help prevent these issues from happening in the first place!

Change the oil regularly.

Changing the oil regularly is one of the simplest ways to keep your car running strong. The recommended interval for changing your vehicle’s motor oil and filter is every 3,000 miles or so–but if you drive more than that per week (for example, if you commute), then it might be worth changing it more frequently.

Changing the oil yourself is not difficult; just be sure to use high-quality synthetic oils or conventional mineral-based oils with an API certification level of “SL” or better (check with your owner’s manual). And don’t forget: always dispose of used motor oil properly!

Check your tire pressure.

Before you even start the car, check the tire pressure. It’s important to check it when your tires are cold, because they’ll be inflated differently when they’re warm. If they’re underinflated or overinflated, this can cause damage to both your vehicle and its tires.

Underinflated tires wear out more quickly than properly inflated ones do–and not just because of increased friction from spinning against themselves on the road surface (though that’s also true). Under-inflation also puts more stress on internal components like belts and hoses inside the wheel assembly itself; if those parts break down prematurely due to excessive strain caused by under-pressurization, then you could end up paying for replacements sooner than expected!

Keep up on routine maintenance.

Routine maintenance is a must. You can’t just let your car run until it breaks down and then start fixing it, because that will be very expensive! Regularly scheduled oil changes and other routine services are vital to keeping your vehicle running smoothly for years to come.

Routine maintenance should include:

An annual oil change (every 6 months or 5,000 miles)
A tire rotation every other year (or when tires show signs of wear)
Windshield wiper blade replacement every 12 months

Replace parts when necessary.

The best time to replace a part is when it’s still working, but close to breaking. This will save you money in the long run, and prevent you from being stranded on the side of the road with your car in need of repair. For example, if one of your headlights begins flickering or dimming out completely when it shouldn’t be doing that anymore, get it replaced before it stops working entirely!

The more expensive parts are more important than others: for example, if your engine dies then all bets are off–you won’t be going anywhere anytime soon! But if your transmission breaks down? That can wait until next month when there’s more cash flow coming in from work or other sources (like those cool new shoes).

A car that gets regular preventive maintenance is less likely to break down

Regular preventive maintenance is a crucial part of car ownership. By keeping your vehicle in good shape, you can avoid costly repairs and breakdowns. Preventive maintenance helps extend the life of your car, which means fewer trips to the mechanic’s shop. It also makes it run more efficiently; by keeping everything in working order, you’ll get better gas mileage out of it.

You should schedule regular visits with a trusted mechanic at least once every six months or so (or as recommended by them). That way they have time to check everything out before anything breaks down unexpectedly on you!

Conclusion

This is the best way to keep your car running strong. You can also save money and make it last longer by doing regular maintenance on your vehicle. If you’re not sure how often you should change your oil or rotate tires, check out our guide to car maintenance!