Six Vehicle Maintenance Tips (Blog)

How well do you maintain your vehicle? Is it immaculate inside and out? Do you ever go a little too long without regular maintenace? Or perhaps it’s a magnet for shopping carts and door dings? Whatever the case, we could all use some tips to maintain and keep our vehicles running smoothly.

Working at a dealership, I have the opportunity to see many vehicles in a variety of conditions and will share with you some quick and easy tips. Whether you plan on trading or selling your car sometime soon or are keeping it until the last engine stroke, these tips will help add some value and quality to any vehicle.

1. Don’t forget the inside.

Washing the car is easy - soap it up and hose it down. And while it looks good going down the highway, what about the inside? The place where you, friends & family spend all the time.

Cleaning your car means getting into the cracks, crevices & places you normally wouldn’t think about. Particles of dirt and grime are abrasive - causing wear and filth that is harder to remove if left alone. You want to make sure that the vacuum you're using is a powerful one - smaller ones can be too weak.

It’s also important to take care of spills and messes right away. If you ever spilled a soda, it can leave a sticky residue that gets harder and harder to remove the longer it sits. You’ll also want to sponge down vinyl surfaces with a mix of mild detergent & water.

2. Blast those mats!

Most people simply take their cars to the wash bay, hose it down and drive away satisfied. In truth, you should hang the floor mats up (if possible) and give them a blast with the hose. This removes the small particles that accumulate and wear holes in your floor mats.

Once finished, I suggest putting the mats in your trunk (if at a wash bay) then taking them out to dry in the sun to dry when you get back home.

3. You’ve got to touch it up.

Maybe you just got a new car. Or perhaps you’ve had one for a while. Either way, go out and get some touch-up paint for your vehicle. Whenever you get a knick or scrape, apply the touch-up paint before rust has a chance to develop. 

Rust is big turn-off for car buyers, so this little move can save you from bigger save you some money when selling the vehicle later.

4. A little wax goes a long way.

You don’t need to drive a classic car to break out the wax. It serves an important purpose, aside from giving your car a fabulous shine, by slowing oxidation and creating a barrier against the elements.

The best, longest-lasting wax job comes from using a paste with a high carnauba content (preferred by enthusiasts). You simply need to apply a thin coat to the surface using a damp sponge. Once dried, you should use a microfiber cloth to remove the residue.

5. Small chips can mean big problems.

So you’re driving down the road and the truck in front of you decides to fling a rock your way, and boom, you are the proud owner of a cracked windshield. What’s the next step? Before the crack spreads or gets worse, you need to get it repaired (or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage) as soon as possible. Many windshield repair shops can fix it up for much less than a new windshield would cost.

6. Change oil frequently.

If you’ve been driving for any amount of time, this last tip is really more of a given. Our parents & grandparents knew that frequent oil changes were the key to keep their old car on the road. It’s true that today’s cars can go longer intervals, but it’s important to note that changing the oil removes metal and dirt particles from the engine, increasing vehicle life.

Remember, too, that your driving habits affect the frequency of oil changes & other service intervals. For example, if you drive in town mostly, in which stop-and-go traffic is common, you need to get oil changed more frequently.

Now it’s your turn - leave a comment with some tips & tricks you use to keep your car in great condition!

Call Seth Hadenfeldt @ Witham Auto Center in Cedar Falls - 319-277-8123 - with questions or to learn more.