Do you have a car that isn’t very reliable?  It seems like everyone runs into at least one of those in our lifetime.  Although have you ever stopped to think maybe it’s not the car and instead it may be how you treat the car?  Auto maintenance on a vehicle is very important.  To keep our car running healthy and out of the shop we need to take excellent care of it.  Just think, we need to take care our ourselves to keep us away from the doctors and it we ignore it, things will only get worse.  Here are a few tips to consider about your vehicle.  These tips will help keep your car running healthy and away from the auto mechanic.

Brake earlier – Often people tend to brake to hard when it comes to stopping.  When we brake hard on a regular basis we are slowly wearing away the vehicle’s brake pads and rotors.  When the brakes are applied hard we are heating up the brake pads and rotors, and nothing ruins them more like heat does.

Avoid hard starts with the gas pedal – When we take off from a stop fast we are damaging our transmission.  Your transmission is a very expensive part of your car and needs to be taken care of properly.  If your car is stopped, gradually step on the gas.  Avoid any flooring possible.

Check your tire pressure – Checking your tire’s air pressure is also very important.  This should be checked every month or so.  Not sure how to check it?  You will need to read the information on your tire that tells you the psi (pounds per square inch).  This number tells you what your tire pressure should be at.  Once you know the number, you will take a tire gauge and press it on the air nozzle of your tire.  Once you press the gauge on your tire it will give you a number on what your tire is currently at.  If you need a lot of air be sure to fill it as soon as possible, if you have too much let some out.

Let your car warm up – You should let your car warm up no matter what temperature it is outside.  Your vehicle has oils that move around the engine to help lubricate the moving parts when you start the car.  If you don’t allow time to let your car warm up you may find problems in the near future.  So, just take a minute and let it warm up.

Change your fluids regularly – There are many fluids in your car that need a lot of attention.  You need to flush the parts and refill them with clean fluids, not just top them off.  Be sure to check your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and your oil.  These all play a major part in how your vehicle runs and its lifetime.

All of these steps may sound intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it and do it for the first time you will be just fine.  Follow these few tips and save your money by avoiding the shop, it’s that easy!