5 Tips to Maintaining Your Car

This post is sponsored by Cars.com. All thoughts/opinions belong to the writer. Your experience may differ.

When it comes to owning a car, there are a lot of things that go into owning a car. You have to think about gas, insurance, and making sure that your car stays in tiptop shape, which includes maintenance on the car. But there are some things you can do yourself to keep your car running like it should. 

Here a few tips to keep in mind when maintaining your vehicle so you're not visiting the repair shop frequently.

Keep an eye on fluids.  This includes brake fluid, oil levels, washer fluid, coolant, and any other levels your car has or needs. Remember: If you're not sure what the correct level is, consult your car's manual.

• Oil Change - Almost every vehicle requires an oil change every 3000-5000 miles. Not changing your oil can result in major mechanical problems - including a seized engine. (I speak from experience!! A new used vehicle only a year old became a paperweight.) You can check your oil levels while pumping gas!
•  Brake fluid - It is important to keep your brakes in working order. The brake fluid serves as a lubricant of all movable parts and prevents corrosion. And as we all know, brakes that don't work as they should is a recipe for disaster.

• Washer fluid - Your windshield gets dirty while you're driving or you notice that it needs a quick cleaning while you're on the highway, so what do you do? Use your windshield washer jets, right? Well, what if there is no washer fluid in there? Your windshield stays dirty, and all that dirt just piles on until a) you wash your car, or b) you finally fill it up.  If there is no washer fluid in the fluid reservoir, internal parts of the pump can corrode and the plastic parts can degrade.

 Learn to do simple repairs. Every car owner should learn to do simple repairs because you're not always going to be able to get to a repair shop when you should or you just simply can't afford it, and this includes changing your windshield wiperss or how to jump your car when you have a dead battery.

Tires are VERY important! Have you ever noticed a car with bald tires? More than likely, that car has trouble gripping the road and will spin or fishtail during bad weather. Safe driving should always include tires with good tread. One simple way to check your tire's tread is the Penny Trick. If you can see Lincoln's head, you are in dire need of tires. (Tip: The Penny Trick is something else you can do while fueling up!)


Clean those mirrors and windows (along with your headlights)! If you clean mirrors and windows at home, you should do the same thing for your car. Headlights looking a little, well, foggy? They may need to be restored. (Found this awesome guy at the Wal-Mart in Hillsboro, Texas that does AMAZING headlight restoration, and Wal-Mart only charges $30 for it.)

Your interior should look just as good as your exterior. If you ever planning on selling your vehicle, a clean interior can mean the difference between the amount you were looking for and a much lower sale. Wash the exterior at least once a month and clean the interior every 3 months. Some people get their cars detailed. Go to Cars.com to find out more.

What are some other tips you use when it comes to keeping your car running and looking great?