Monthly Vehicle Checklist
Whether you are a young, first-time car owner or an older, more experienced car owner it can be overwhelming and frustrating when something goes wrong with your car out of the blue, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Following a short monthly checklist will help to familiarize yourself with your vehicle and its engine as well as reducing the chances of being caught off guard by car troubles. Taking a few minutes to inspect your vehicle each month can also help to save you money by noticing small issues before they develop into large problems requiring extensive repairs.
Besides benefiting your vehicle and wallet, if you want to make changes to your life but are struggling, completing the monthly checklist can also help to enforce positive habits in your life. Following a vehicle checklist each month may seem inconsequential but by completing this simple task every month you will be slowly introducing structure into your life, this can be expanded into other areas and built upon.
So without further ado, here is the Lex Brodie’s Tire & Service Center monthly vehicle checklist:
Tire pressure. Ensuring that your tires are properly inflated is quite important when it comes to keeping you safe on the road, over or under-inflated tires are at a greater risk of bursting and if this happens while driving you could lose control of the vehicle very easily. Another reason is that properly inflated tires help to improve fuel efficiency which means you will end up spending less for fuel. Check your owners manual or the sticker on the driver’s side door jamb to find out the correct pressure for your tires;
- Tire condition. For the condition of your tires, you should first check the remaining tread and if any show signs of excessive wear you should replace them as soon as possible. Also keep an eye out for uneven wear on your tires as this could be a sign that the wheels are misaligned;
- Wiper Blades. A lot of car owners forget about their wiper blades, but these are one of fastest parts of your car to deteriorate to the point of needing a replacement. Check for signs of the rubber drying out, splitting or cracking. An average pair of windshield wipers should last anywhere from 6 to 12 months;
- Check Fluids. Your vehicle is made up of many moving parts, as with most machines various moving parts require lubrication or specialized fluid to function correctly. Checking the level of the following fluids every month can help to prevent excessive wear and stress to your engine;
Coolant: To check the levels of coolant, or antifreeze, look for the coolant reservoir (it is usually a translucent plastic container). The coolant tank will have full / low or max / min indicators on it which you can check by eye. Coolant generally needs to be changed every 30,000 miles or every 2 or 3 years;
Washer: Just like the coolant tank, the washer fluid container is usually made from a translucent plastic with full / low indicators on its side. It is easily identifiable as there will be an image of windshield wipers on it;
Power steering: Essential to the proper functioning of your steering system, the power steering fluid shouldn’t need to be changed until you have covered around 50,000 miles. Either check the level of fluid in the reservoir by eye or use the dipstick method, if you are having trouble finding the reservoir double check the owner's manual;
Brake: Usually found at the rear of the engine, you should be able to check the level of fluid by eye.
- If any of the fluid levels are lower than expected this could be an indication that there is a leak that should be reported to your chosen mechanic.
If you are unsure about something, or you notice something not quite right with your engine or tires don’t hesitate in contacting us here at Lex Brodie’s Tire and Service Center. Our highly qualified technicians will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Give us a call, visit one of our locations, or schedule an appointment online for your vehicle's next checkup!
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