According to contempo studies, five percent of all motor vehicle fatalities are clearly caused by motorcar maintenance fail.
The cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled most every 24 months. The level, condition, and concentration of coolant should be checked. (A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and h2o is usually recommended.)
Never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled. The tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses should be checked by a pro.
Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual, or more often (every 3,000 miles) if yous make frequent short jaunts, extended trips with lots of baggage or tow a trailer.
Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended, or more oftentimes in dusty conditions. Go engine drivability bug (hard stops, rough idling, stalling, diminished ability, etc.) corrected at a good shop.
A muddied windshield causes heart fatigue and can pose a safety hazard. Supplant worn blades and become enough of windshield washer solvent.
Have your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check tire pressures one time a calendar month; permit the tires cool downwardly start. Don't forget your spare and exist sure your jack is in adept condition.
Check your owner'due south manual to find out what fuel octane rating your car's engine needs then buy it.
Proceed your tires inflated to the proper levels. Under-inflated tires brand it harder for your auto to move down the road, which means your engine uses more than fuel to maintain speed.
Lighten the load. Heavier vehicles employ more than fuel, then make clean out unnecessary weight in the passenger compartment or trunk earlier you hit the route.
Utilize the A/C sparingly. The air conditioner puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to exist used.
Keep your windows closed. Wide-open windows, especially at highway speeds, increase aerodynamic elevate and the consequence is up to a 10% decrease in fuel economic system.
Avoid long idling. If you anticipate beingness stopped for more than i minute, shut off the car. Opposite to pop belief, restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle.
Stay inside posted speed limits. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. For example, driving at 65 miles per hr (mph) rather than 55 mph, increases fuel consumption by 20 per centum.
Utilise cruise control. Using cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in well-nigh cases, reduce your fuel consumption.
Keep your engine tuned. A fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency equally much as 30 percent.
Inspect the engine'south belts regularly. Look for cracks or missing sections or segments. Worn belts will bear upon the engine performance.
Have the fuel filter changed every 10,000 miles to preclude rust, dirt and other impurities from inbound the fuel organization.
Modify the transmission fluid and filter every 15,000 to 18,000 miles. This will protect the precision-crafted components of the transmission/transaxle.
Inspect the suspension organisation regularly. This will extend the life of the vehicle's tires.