Tips For Improving Your Car Maintenance IQ

Whether you are a brand new car owner or an experienced automotive mechanic, we all have things to learn when it comes to our vehicles. The average car has around 30,000 parts, so that is a lot of things to maintain and repair. While learning about your car can be intimidating as a beginner, we are here to give you the best tips for improving your knowledge about your beloved vehicle.

Why Car Maintenance Is Important

Car maintenance. It is one of the most important things you need to ask a car owner, but it can be time-consuming if you don't have the right auto repair solution. In the past, you might have skipped a service or two because you didn't have the time, money, or energy to spend. But you need to know how important car maintenance is.

One of the benefits of staying on top of your car's maintenance schedule, as stated by your vehicle's manufacturer, is that it will increase the safety of you and your passengers. If you don't keep up on your car maintenance, then your car is at a higher risk of breaking down. This could lead to you getting stranded or could even cause a deadly accident!

It will also keep your car running at its best. Avoiding maintenance services can also lead to annoyances like strange smells, sounds, or even just a rough ride. To prevent these annoyances and keep your car functioning properly, you will want to stay on top of your maintenance schedule.

Overall, car maintenance will save you money in the long run. This might seem strange to you, so we will break it down. You can spend a little bit of money every once and a while on automotive services that will keep your car in good shape, or you can wait until a bigger problem arises and causes a very expensive repair. We would rather do the first option, so you should do that too!

Not only will regular car maintenance save you money on repairs, but it will also lower the cost of fuel. When your car isn't running at its best, it will take more fuel for your car to perform its usual functions. That means you will be spending more money on fuel than usual! To save money, you will need to spend some money on car maintenance.

Along with saving you money, car maintenance will also save you time in the long run. Putting in an hour every few months to keep your car maintained doesn't seem like a lot of time if you compare it to the alternative. If you don't keep up on your car's maintenance schedule, you could experience breakdowns or broken parts which could force you to make time for the repairs. Car maintenance services take a lot less time than auto repair services!

And finally, it will keep the value of your car high. If you are planning on selling your vehicle in the future, you will want to be good about keeping up with your car's maintenance. Just like anything, taking good care of your car will increase its value because it will be of better quality. Missing a service here or there won't change the value too much, but you want to be careful not to make it a habit.

Top 10 Things To Know About Your Car

Now that you know the importance of car maintenance, let us help you start being more knowledgeable about how to care for your car. With just these 10 tips, you can be on your way to a long future with your car.

1. Know Your Vehicle Inside And Out
   First things first, you have to know your vehicle. Even if you don't follow any other tips except this one, you will be okay. You need to know what is normal when it comes to your car. Pay attention to how it feels and sounds to drive your car. Notice any sounds or smells that occur. Then you will be able to notice when things change and that information will be very helpful for your mechanic. Also, make sure you read your manufacturer's recommendations to find a recommended maintenance schedule for your make and model!
2. Get Your Oil Changed Regularly
   Whether you know how to change your oil or not, it is important to get it done. Changing your oil is one of the most important car maintenance services because a lot can go wrong if you put this off for too long. Even in the COVID-19 pandemic, you need to regularly change your oil. There are a lot of factors that can influence when you need to get your oil changed, but as a general guide, you should expect to change your oil every 3,000 miles or every 3 months.
3. Don't Forget To Replace Your Air Filter
   Another important maintenance service is an air filter replacement. Unfortunately, this one can go under the radar for some car owners and their air filters can come out super dirty and clogged. Clogged air filters can cause a variety of issues such as decreased gas mileage, abnormal engine noises, fuel smells, black smoke coming from the exhaust, and more. You should expect to change your air filter 12,000-15,000 miles.
4. Know Severity Of The Dashboard Lights
   Your dashboard lights will tell you a lot about your car if you know how to listen to them. You should make sure you know what all of the icons mean so you can act accordingly when a light comes on. If your dashboard light is flashing, then your problem is serious and required immediate attention from your preferred mechanic. Driving with a flashing check engine light, for example, can cause a lot of damage to your engine or catalytic converter. If the light is constant, then the issue is less severe, but you will still need to visit a mechanic relatively soon to get it fixed.
5. Be Aware Of What Fluids Go Into Your Car
   There are many fluids that go into your car, and every single one of them is important! You need to know what fluids are required for your car so that you can ensure that all the reservoirs are fills appropriately. First of all, gas is a necessary fluid. We hope you already knew that, but we might as well mention it! Then there are the less known fluids like engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, differential fluid, brake fluid, air conditioning refrigerant, and washer fluid.  
6. Know How To Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades
   You should also know how to replace your windshield wiper blades yourself. Since it is a fairly easy maintenance service, you could do it at home. As always, you could book an appointment with Wrench's mobile mechanics and we will replace your windshield wiper blades along with any other maintenance services you need.
7. Check Your Tire Tread And Pressure
   Every driver should know how to check the tread of their tires. One easy way to check your tread is by using a penny. If your tires are worn out, you will need to look into getting them replaced. Having tired that are worn out or low on air pressure can be very dangerous as you can get into a car accident.
8. Learn How To Jump Start Your Car
   Needing to jumpstart your car when the battery dies is something that most drivers experience at some point. If you don't know how to jumpstart your car, your fate could lie in the hands of a stranger! That's why you need to know how to jumpstart your car. We also recommend keeping jumper cables in your emergency kit.
9. Know How To Replace A Flat Tire
   Another common car emergency is a flat tire. We think that every car owner should keep a spare tire in their car, but they should also know how to replace the flat tire. You should keep all the tools you need to replace a flat in your emergency kit as well. Click here to learn how you can replace your own flat tire!
10. Keep Your Car Clean
    Most car owners know how to wash their car, but whether they do it often enough is another question. We are all guilty of leaving a couple of granola bars or fast-food wrappers in the door of our car, but any more mess than that can cause issues. For the exterior, dirt, grime, and pollen can build up and ruin your paint. For the interior, old food can attract animals and create gross smells. Once you start cleaning your car on a regular basis, you and your passengers will certainly notice!

Have A Mobile Mechanics On Speed Dial!

If you don't have the time or energy to take care of these basic car maintenance tips, book an appointment with a mobile mechanic! Mobile mechanics are the best auto repair and maintenance option for all car owners. Whether you are a busy stay-at-home parent or a blue-collar worker, our ASE-certified mobile mechanics will be able to come to your preferred location and get your car up and running before you know it.

Simply book your car maintenance appointment and you won't want to go back to an auto repair shop ever again!

How To Book A Maintenance Appointment With Wrench's Mobile Mechanics

To get your maintenance appointment on the books, contact us via phone call or through the form on our website. We will ask you a few questions about your car and its needs, then we will give you an honest and affordable quote for your services.

You will need to give us the year, make, and model of your car as well as the VIN and license plate number. This will help us get a good understanding of what kind of vehicle we will be working with. Then we will need to know what service you would like to receive. If you want an oil change, tire rotation, windshield wiper blade replacement, or another maintenance service, just let us know. You can add as many services as you want.

Then we will use that information to give you a quote. Once you accept the quote, you will be able to pick a date, time, and location for your Wrench appointment. You can pick any location, such as your home, office, or even a local park! As long as you can park your car in a safe and relatively flat location, our mobile mechanics will be able to help you out.

Then you will leave the rest to us! Our mobile mechanics will arrive on time and fully prepared to get your vehicle back on the road and properly maintained. It's that easy!

Click the button below to book your first appointment with Wrench today!