As a car owner, there are many bits of knowledge you need to juggle.
Things such as car insurance, gas prices, and resale value are constantly hammered into our heads, so there's a lot to think about when you own a car.
If you own a car, you've likely encountered car problems, and the frustration that comes with them.
Few things can be as exasperating, not to mention as expensive, as car issues.
They generally sneak up on you, inevitably at the most inconvenient of times.
However, there are many things you can do to prevent common car problems.
Although these aren't guaranteed to stop problems from taking place, they can at least decrease the likelihood of them happening.
If you're doing all you can to prevent problems, it can at least give you the peace of mind that you're doing something to help your car run to its maximum potential.
Let's look at a couple of the preventative measures you can take regarding your car.
The first thing you can do to prevent car problems is very simple, but many people consider it to be the most important thing you can do to ensure your car runs properly for as long as possible: regularly checking and changing your cars oil.
The average person doesn't know how devastating it can be to an engine to drive with low oil levels, or with old oil.
Failing to do so can have extremely destructive consequences on your car's engine, and is a cause, either directly or indirectly, of many car problems.
Checking your oil requires no car expertise, and can be done quickly.
Every car will come with a dip stick that allows you to check your oil yourself.
If your oil appears dirty or darker than it did when you put it in, it's probably a good idea to get your car looked at.
Detecting this early and getting it checked out can be the difference between a small repair or part replacement, and needing a full transmission replacement.
In other words, it's better to play it safe than to assume everything is fine.
The next thing you can do to prevent issues is to ensure proper tire care.
This is another thing that you can do even if you aren't a car expert.
Buy a tire gauge (most parts stores sell them for $10 or less for reliable ones), and check your tire pressure at least once a week.
It's recommended that you check your tire pressure when your tires are "cold", or haven't been used in a while.
The reason for this is because as your tires spin, the air within heats up and expands.
If you measure your tire pressure when your tires are hot, it will likely lead to an inaccurate reading.
Keep an eye on your tires to ensure that there's not too much wear.
A worn tire is much more likely to have a blowout than a tire with a lot of tread.
No matter how people feel about their cars, the fact of the matter is they want them to run well, and run for a long time.
Taking these preventative measures can help ensure that your car will run as long as you need it to.