Maintaining Your New Car

Purchasing a new car is a very big investment.  An investment that you want to maintain and keep looking and running like the day you bought it.  Having a new car can be harder to maintain depending on the area in which you live.  Living in the snowy mountains poses a challenge with the road salt.  Other outdoor elements will need washed and cleaned off regularly.

• Avoid hard or frequent starts and stops, corner at a reasonable speed.  Driving your car at a reasonable rate of speed for the make of the road will save on your brakes.  Watching out for pot holes, railroad tracks and other road hazards hitting these at a high rate of speed is not good on your shocks or other car parts.
  
  
• Check oil frequently and adding as necessary.  Have regular oil changes and keep a record of the date and miles upon which you had it changed.  In a new car it is recommended that the oil be changed at 500 mile, 1000miles then every 3000 miles.  This will improve the life of the engine.
  
  
• Having the oil filter and air filter changed at routine service check-ups is recommended.  Keep record of these changes for future references.
  
  
• Add windshield wiper fluid as often as needed.  It is a good idea to have on hand an extra gallon of wiper fluid in the trunk of your car.
  
  
• Check anti-freeze and add coolant as necessary.  Anti-freeze is needed as much in the winter as in the summer.  Many people think this is just a winter maintenance and that is not so.
  
  
• Check your tires as needed.  Checking the air in your tires will help prolong the life of them.  Improperly inflated tires will cause uneven tread wear.  Have your tires rotated often.  When having your car routinely serviced make your tires part of this.
  
  
• Regular car washing is necessary.  Having outdoor elements washed off your car will prevent your car from rusting out as fast as a car that is not washed and waxed routinely.
  
  
• Vacuum and scrub your carpet and seats.  Also keep a litter bag in your car at all times and empty as often as needed.  Wipe off your dashboard and doors.  Use glass cleaner on the windows.  These steps will keep the inside of your car looking as clean as the day you drove it off the lot.
  
  
• Having floor mats is a good idea.  This keeps the carpet protected from water, snow and mud.  Most of the time these floor mats can be removed and washed in the washer machine.
  
  
• If you have children or pets it may be a good idea to protect your seats with seat covers.  The plastic lined seat covers can protect your seats against accidental spills.  Seat covers are easily removed and machine-washed, leaving your car seats new and spot free.