Car Maintenance Tips For Your Older Car

I have an older car. ” What type of car maintenance tips can you offer to make sure my vehicle stays in top shape?” ” I’m not ready to jump into a new car, so I want to keep my older car in the best shape possible.”  We’re hearing a lot of this these days.  Instead of replacing a car every three to four years, people are pushing the window of ownership, and are choosing to keep their older cars an extra year or two.  Not only will it save  money on monthly payments, but it also can save  on insurance rates as well.

Keep a car maintenance log

Keep a small spiral notebook and pen in your glove compartment, and keep track of all of your car related maintenance.  You may also want to record your gas fill-ups and mileage, a reduction in mileage can be an early warning sign of a future problem.  Also use the same service location for all your car maintenance items-they will track your maintenance and be able to monitor potential problems along the way.  Keep your receipts from the services you have performed on your vehicle, they will help you remember what work you’ve already had done.

Buy gas at reputable service stations

Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filter regularly.  Some stations don’t have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline.  Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly or water down their product.  Find a station you trust and stick to it.

Don’t fill up if you see the tanker

If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station.  As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment.  Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly repairs.

Lighten up your key chain

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys?  That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.  The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a light weight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others.  Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition.  If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail.  Replace it before you get stranded.

Fix and fill your washer fluid tank

With Colorado’s variable weather patterns, you may notice a cracked washer fluid tank on an older car.  Fix immediately, and keep it filled with plenty of window washer fluid, especially on cold, slushy days.

Clean your car thoroughly

Clean your car inside and out.  While everyone likes a clean car on the outside, the inside is just as important.  Clean off the magnesium chloride from your wheel wells and undercarriage, which Colorado uses to keep the streets ice free in the snowy months.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.