Car Care Tips to Keep Your Vehicle in Tip-Top Shape, Part 1

When it comes to car care, there are some helpful tips we’d like to share to help keep your vehicle running well — and looking good.

If you’re a car fanatic like us, you will most likely want to perform all of the following car care tips yourself, but if that’s not the case (or you just don’t have the time) just know we’re always here to help.

Let’s jump in!

OIL CHANGE

Getting an oil change is a no-brainer, but it can be tough to make the time to get it done — even when you’re just bringing it in to our auto repair shop. That said, keeping fresh oil in your vehicle will go a long way in keeping your engine running healthily. Adhering to the little sticker we put on your windshield is the easiest way to ensure you’re changing your oil in a timely manner. With some of the newer, tech-centric vehicles, your vehicle may also remind you that it’s time for an oil change.

Also, remember, every vehicle is different — and depending on the type of oil you’re using (synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, etc.) how often you change your oil will vary. Not sure how often to change your oil? Check your owners manual (or Google it) to see how often your vehicle needs an oil change, as well as what type of oil is best.

FLUIDS

Checking all of the fluid levels in your vehicle is another way to ensure things will continue to function properly. Something as simple as refilling your windshield wiper fluid can go a long way in keeping your windshield clear (and you safe) during the Wisconsin winter.

Other fluids to check include: brake fluid, transmission fluid, engine coolant and power steering fluid. Once again, your owner’s manual will share how often you need to check these fluids — or, just ask us!

TIRES

A dependable set of tires is critical to keeping you safe on the road — especially here in Wisconsin where roads can be a sheet of ice. Good tires can last to around 80,000 miles, but there are a lot of factors that go into just how long a set of tires will last.

That said, the easiest way to check your tires is to examine the tread using the penny test … Using a good-old penny, with Lincoln’s head facing down, put Lincoln’s head in-between the tire treads. If his head is obscured (even partially), your tires should be OK. If treads are too “short” to cover part of Lincon’s head, bring your car in and we can discuss tire options. You can also get a tire tread depth gauge to check treadwear.

You’ll also want to keep your tires inflated to the proper PSI — which can change (sometimes drastically) with the change of season, making it important to adjust the PSI periodically. Keeping a small, motorized tire inflator (which isn’t very expensive) in your trunk is a convenient way to keep tires inflated properly, especially before a long drive.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

OK, so you already checked your fluid, and it’s also important to check your wipers.

This may be one of the easiest things to do because if you engage your wipers while it’s raining, and there’s a lot of streaking, they’re either dirty or worn out.

If it’s wear and tear, get wipers replaced ASAP.

HEADLIGHTS & TAILLIGHTS

Check headlights and taillights to make sure they are all working properly.

With brake lights, you’ll need a helper, or you can just use the rear camera (if you have one on your vehicle) to see if the tail lights engage when you step on the brakes.

This brings us to the end of Part 1 of our car care tips series. Next up, we’ll continue with five more tips to keep your vehicle in tip top condition.

Get In Touch …
Feel free to contact Top Tier Automotive anytime with questions, or to schedule service. You can also schedule a service online by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button in the navigation above.