Tips On Maintaining A Car: Don’t Chase After Gasoline Labels, And Do Maintenance Scientifically

Many car owners cherish a new car very much when they first buy it, but they become a little "random" while driving it.

In fact, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to maintain a car. The key is to use the right method.

I have been driving by myself for several years. At first I didn't understand anything, and was "suggested" by the repair shop to make various replacements. Until now, I can generally judge which expenses should be spent and which expenses can be saved, and I have accumulated a lot of experience.

The following 10 tips for car maintenance are methods I have used myself and are also methods approved by experienced drivers around me. If you follow these methods, you can easily save thousands of dollars every year.

Don’t be superstitious about high-grade gasoline

Every time I go to a gas station, the staff always likes to ask if I want to add 95-octane gasoline, or even 98-octane gasoline, as if I would be sorry for the vehicle I own if I don't add it.

It's really not necessary.

The gasoline label only represents the anti-knock performance and has nothing to do with whether the oil is clean or resistant to burning.

The number that best suits your car is clearly written on the instructions and on the inside of the fuel tank cap.

I have met countless friends who drive ordinary family cars. They insist on adding 95-octane gasoline. In the end, not only do they spend more money, but the car engine also produces carbon deposits due to insufficient combustion.

Just choose the engine oil according to the compression ratio recommended by the manufacturer. Don't be misled by the statement that "higher grades are good for the vehicle".

Know the maintenance cycle well

car maintenance It’s not that the more diligent you are, the better, but you can’t just delay it either.

In the first few years of a new car, normal oil and filter changes are enough, and the cost is not high.

As the vehicle ages and some wearing parts reach the end of their lifespan, maintenance costs will naturally increase.

The most scientific approach is to refer to the mileage mentioned in the maintenance manual and then combine it with your daily car use environment.

If you often travel to construction sites and the roads are dusty, the air filter element needs to be replaced in advance. If you are just driving daily in the city and the surrounding road conditions are good, then it is not necessary to delay the replacement for one or two thousand kilometers.

Don't let the repair shop scare you, just remember the time and items of the last maintenance.

Replace the air filter and wipers yourself

Replacing these two things will cost the 4S store two or three times as much. In fact, if you do it yourself, it can be done in just five minutes.

The air filter element is usually replaced every 20,000 kilometers. It needs to be inspected every 20,000 kilometers. If it is not too dirty, it can be used after blowing it.

Wipers are relatively simple. You can buy the corresponding model online, unplug the old one and plug in the new one. Girls can also operate it easily.

It is recommended to replace the wipers every six months to a year, especially before the rainy season. Failure to clean the wipers will directly affect driving safety.

Replacing it yourself not only saves money, but also allows you to better understand the condition of your car.

Don’t always fill the fuel tank with half a tank of fuel

Some friends only fill up half a box each time in order to save fuel or feel that it is too heavy to fill up.

This habit is actually quite harmful to the car.

The fuel pump located in the fuel tank must be immersed in gasoline to dissipate heat. Once the oil becomes less, the pump body will be exposed. Due to poor heat dissipation, it is easily burned out.

Replacing the fuel pump costs at least a few hundred dollars, and at most it costs thousands. The little money you save on gas is really not enough to repair it.

The habit is to top up the oil every time after turning on the light. Or perform refueling operation to fill more than half of the tank's capacity. This can not only protect the part of the oil pump device, but also avoid having to go to the gas station to refuel. There is no need to go to the fuel supply station frequently.

Don’t wash and wax your car too frequently

It's good to like to keep clean, but cleaning your car two or three times a week and waxing your car's paint twice a month will actually accelerate the aging of your car's paint.

The towels and sponges found in car washes are inevitably mixed with small grains of sand. When they are rubbed back and forth, they are actually "polishing" the car paint.

waxing Too often, layers of wax can also cause the paint to lose its luster.

For normal car use, washing once a month is enough, and waxing once every two to three months is enough.

Choose a mild detergent and a non-abrasive car wax that's the friendliest to your car's paint.

The oil filter must be changed along with the engine oil

Many people know to change engine oil on time, but they ignore it. oil filter .

This filter is like the "mask" of the engine. After being used for a long time, it will be filled with impurities and sludge.

If you only replace the engine oil without replacing the engine filter, the newly entered engine oil will be contaminated by the old filter element, and its effect will be greatly reduced and compromised.

At present, most vehicles use spin-on disposable filters, which must be replaced when changing the oil.

Normally, the frequency of replacement is once every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers. The specific replacement interval is determined based on the type of engine oil and the strength of the vehicle during use.

Be careful not to install it upside down when installing. The arrow on the filter marks the direction of the oil inlet and outlet.

Check tire pressure regularly

When it comes to tire pressure, it’s impossible to tell with just your eyes.

When the tire pressure is low, both sides of the tire wear faster and consume fuel; when the tire pressure is high, the middle of the tire wears faster, and punctures are prone to occur when passing through potholes and bumpy road sections.

The safest way is to use a tire pressure gauge to measure it every two weeks, and measure it when the car is cold, that is, when the car is parked for more than an hour.

Do not cool down the tire by quickly deflating it or splashing water on it, as this can easily damage the tire.

The required standard tire pressure is not the same from one car to another. It is usually shown with a record on the door frame on the driver's side, or you can check the manual to find out.

Don’t forget to check your spare tire, as it would be embarrassing if it runs out of air when you need to use it.

You have to wash your car even on rainy days

Some people think that rain equals free car washing, which saves trouble and money.

In fact, rainwater contains acidic substances, which will slowly corrode the car paint if it adheres to it for a long time.

A friend of mine parked his car under a tree. After it rained, he never cleaned it. After a while, he discovered that there were water stains on the paint surface that could not be removed.

Therefore, after the rain stops, the best thing to do is to wash the car as soon as possible to clean away the corrosive things such as acid rain, bird droppings and gum.

If possible, apply another layer after washing Oily protective film , can add an extra layer of protection to the car paint.

Imported tires may not be suitable for you

Many people think that imported tires are better and worth spending more money.

But in fact, the road conditions abroad are quite different from those in China.

For example, there are many stone roads in Europe, and their tire designs tend to be harder; however, domestic urban roads have many manhole covers and dense speed bumps, which require tires that are softer and more wear-resistant.

If you blindly buy imported tires, they may be expensive and may not be durable.

Nowadays, the tire technology of domestic first-tier brands is very mature and the price/performance ratio is much higher.

When replacing tires, you should first check the load index, speed level, pattern type and other conditions. But don't just look at whether the brand is imported.

Is it expensive to choose the right lubricant?

Engine oil is the blood of the engine, but the money should also be spent wisely.

Fully synthetic engine oil has good performance characteristics and has a long oil change interval. It is suitable for vehicles that are turbocharged or frequently driven at high speeds. Ordinary naturally aspirated engines using semi-synthetic engine oil or even mineral oil are completely sufficient to meet the needs.

The key point is that the viscosity label must meet the requirements specified by the manufacturer, such as 5W-30 or 0W-20, which are clearly stated in the instructions.

Don’t believe what others say: “The more expensive the engine oil, the better it is for the engine.” You should understand that the engine oil that matches your vehicle is the most appropriate.

Every 5,000 kilometers, the oil dipstick usually needs to be inspected. When the oil dipstick displays a black color and contains impurities, it should be replaced.

In fact, maintaining a car is not that mysterious. The key is to read the manual more often, pay more attention to the daily vehicle condition, and do not be led off track by various sales promotions under the banner of "for your own good".

The real ways to save money and protect your car are among the 10 above. Pick a few and try them first, and gradually develop a habit. Later, you will find that maintaining a car is actually quite easy.

Save the money and take your family out for a nice meal, isn't it delicious?