Importance of Properly Maintaining Family Car

When you buy a new car, you might think you’re 100% safe from any malfunctions or other issues. However, even the newest of cars require proper maintenance in order to stay safe and well-functioning for you and your family. Regular maintenance will save you money, protect your vehicle, maintain your warranty, boost safety and reduce pollution to the environment. So, how do you properly maintain your family car?

Follow maintenance schedule

Many people tend to put instructions somewhere in the back of the glove department and never touch it again. However, when it comes to taking good care of your car, it’s best to do things according to your manual. Your manual is tailored to your car and it can help you prevent many issues. Also, there you can find a good maintenance schedule you can include in your to-do calendar so you don’t miss any appointments. Checkups conducted by professionals will allow early diagnosis and make your car safer and more cost-effective.

Keep fluids in check

Make sure your car is always filled with fluids. Oil, transmission and brake fluid and even wiper fluid will help you keep your machine in top condition and slow down wear and tear. Driving past where the oil change sticker says you should stop won’t kill your car, but if you want to improve longevity and save yourself some money, it’s best to stick to the schedule. Make sure to check fluids regularly and change the oil every 5,000 or 7,500 kilometres.

Get good car insurance

If you don’t want to stress about any issues concerning your precious four-wheeler, make sure to get good car insurance, just like the Aussies do. What you should look for is QLD car insurance that includes everything from accidents, fire and theft to natural disasters and even roadside assistance. This type of comprehensive insurance allows you to focus on the road knowing someone has your back in case something unforeseen happens.

Use your air conditioning

When it comes to air conditioning, stick to this rule: use it or lose it. Air conditioning devices will definitely leak refrigerant gas, but this process happens even quicker if you don’t use your air-con regularly. While leaving it off might reduce fuel consumption, it can also leave you with high bills for re-gassing. So, if you want to save your kids from any sort of harsh temperature changes, at least let your air-con blow when you’re driving alone.

Wash the car regularly

Keeping your car clean will not only make it more aesthetically pleasing, but it can also boost the longevity of your vehicle. If you have the chance, wash your car every week. Concentrate on the body, but also hose out fender wells and undercarriage to clean out all accumulated dirt and salt. If you want to provide your car with additional shine, you can wax the finish at the end. And don’t neglect the interior. The mess can we very distracting and your kids can pick up something harmful from the floor if you keep all sorts of junk in your vehicle. And in case of an injury, unsecured items can become speeding projectiles! So, vacuum your car and keep all necessities in compartments or on the car floor.

Don’t neglect your tyres

Tyres are often the most neglected part of a vehicle, even though they play a huge role in safety and car functionality. Improper care for tyres and any sort of rim issues can not only impact your mileage but also affect your road safety and lead to suspension damage. So, make sure to regularly check tyre pressure and replace your tyres when they go past their life span (consult owner’s manual). Also, keeping a spare tyre in your car is also crucial for safety. In case something happens to your regular tyre, a spare can prevent you from being stranded or having to call roadside assistance.

Resist modifications

Modifying your car can be tempting, but it will make your family car less reliable and shorten its lifespan. For instance, more power puts more strain on various components like brakes. Also, it will tempt you to drive faster, which will put yours, your family’s and everyone else’s life in danger. Stiff sporty suspension can cause quicker wear to your chassis, subframe and bushes. Also, tuning your car won’t increase its value. As a matter of fact, it often reduces value, so if you want to keep good resale value, make sure to resist making any modifications.

If you follow these tips, your family car will serve you properly and keep you safe. And since it will stay in good condition for a long time, you can expect to achieve a good resale value once you’re ready for a newer model.