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Routine Vehicle Maintenance in Austin, Lakeway, Round Rock and Cedar Park and Surrounding Areas

A car can be a major investment. Regardless of the sticker price, many people use their vehicles for over 10 years. To most, every part of daily life is dependant on the use of a vehicle. So it is only common sense to take care of your investment. There are several things you can do that make a great difference in the condition, functionality and lifespan of your car.

This video explains how to do routine maintenance checks on your cars fluids and how to find leaks. Then, read on to learn more about routine car maintenance.

Many of the following tasks can be completed yourself, however, use a professional for anything you are uncomfortable doing.

Tip Every once and a while, buy a bottle of Fuel Injector/Carburetor cleaner. Add it to your gas tank to ensure clean fuel injectors and good horsepower. A bottle at any Austin automotive store should run about $5.

Fan Belts are usually one of the first parts to go in your car. The fan belts and hoses can even be damaged in the first 30,000 miles of use. Because of this, make sure they are checked often. Look for wear and tear, rips and any other suspicious damage.

Although it is customary to change your oil every 3000 miles, it is important to check it every two weeks. Some newer vehicles can burn through oil very quickly. If you are interested in changing your own oil, refer to our article “Changing your oil.”

Every two years, replace hoses and flush out the cooling system completely with radiator fliching solution before adding new antifreeze. This will prevent the cooling system from getting clogged.

Check the engine of your car once a week for oil leaks and/or dirt. If you see a dirty area, wipe clean with a dry towel. If the dirt or oil has come back within two days it is a good idea to bring your car in for a check up. Do not, however, attempt to hose down the engine area. This may make it look pristine but in reality could be very detrimental to your connections. Water could seep into the electrical connections causing a short circuit.

Regularly get your fluids checked. At abnormal levels, they could cause significant problems.

Even during the winter, run your air conditioning for about five minutes per month. This keeps the system well lubricated and helps to prevent failures. Likewise, run your heating system for the same amount of time to prevent the air distribution system from sticking or seizing.

Park your car in the same place while at your home. If your car is leaking brake fluid put a piece of cardboard under your car to monitor the leak. In the case that your garage does get oil marks, spread a liberal amount of cat litter on the stain and it will work itself out.

When driving try to avoid making abrupt stops to preserve the life of your brake pads and rotors.

Also, check all tires at least once a month for abnormalities. Get your tires rotated every 7500 miles for best functionality.

Look for white deposits on your battery terminals. If found, use a wire brush to remove the deposits, then clean the battery with 2 teaspoons of baking soda mixed with one pint of water.

For optimal functionality and extended life of your transmission, if your car has manual transmission, stop completely before shifting between reverse and forward gears. Also, brake and shift into neutral when at a stop. It can be detrimental to your vehicle to drive with your foot on the clutch.

Seasonally wax your car. This can be done several times per year but a good time is at the beginning of summer, fall, and spring.

Make sure to lubricate all of your door hinges and locks with grease (penetrating) or a graphic lubricant spray. Do this at least once per year.

Finally, and most importantly, bring your car in for regular check ups. Although you are ready to perform all of these regular tasks that will undoubtedly maintain the functionality and extend the lifetime of your vehicle, we are not all mechanics. Let the experts do the major work.

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