Checking Your Car Fluids Every Month

Keeping your car up to date is essential. This means you must ensure that your car gets the attention it deserves. Here are a few tips to keep your car running smoothly.

Check your air filter

Changing your air filter every month for cars is one of the most straightforward maintenance tasks, and it can improve your vehicle’s performance. Keeping it clean will also help lower your emissions. It will also improve your fuel economy and increase your engine’s life.

An air filter is a paper or gauze cylinder that sits in your engine’s air intake. Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, dust, and other debris from entering the engine. It also traps dirt before it enters the engine.

Dirty air filters can cause sluggish starting, rough acceleration, and other issues. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to replace the filter.

If your vehicle is equipped with an OBDII scanner, you can use it to check for a plugged filter, air conditioning repair Hammond LA, and put it back in. You may need to use a hand vacuum or shop rag to remove any dirt.

If you live in a dusty area, you may need to change your air filter sooner than the recommended interval. Check your owner’s manual for how often your filter should be changed.

Check your coolant levels

Keeping your coolant levels optimal is essential for your car’s health. Coolant helps prevent engine breakdown and ensures that your engine doesn’t overheat; Coolant also prevents your engine from freezing during winter. Coolant can be either water-based or a mix of water and antifreeze.

Coolant levels are depleted over time. Therefore, you should check your coolant levels at least once every three to six months.

Coolant levels are essential because they prevent overheating in hot weather and help keep your engine’s components from freezing during cold weather. Checking your coolant levels is a simple task that you can do yourself. Just be sure to follow the instructions on your bottle.

You can check your coolant levels by looking at the side markings on your radiator. A complete line will indicate that your radiator is excellent, while a half line is not. You can also check your coolant levels by looking at the reservoir cap. If the reservoir is empty, you need to fill it with coolant.

Check your belts

Getting your belts checked monthly to keep your vehicle running in top shape. Belts are essential car components that wear out over time. Having them checked periodically can prevent you from having to replace them altogether.

Regarding belts, checking for cracks, slick spots, and other signs of wear is a good idea. You can do this by taking the belt off section by section.

If your belt is cracked, you’ll want to replace it. Cracks indicate a problem with the belt’s alignment. For example, a warped pulley or a loose accessory can cause this.

The serpentine belt is one of the essential car parts. It drives many vital engine parts, including the power steering pump and alternator. It also goes for many peripheral devices. A cracked serpentine belt can cause overheating and engine failure.

Another vehicle component that wears out is the hoses. These carry air, gas, and brake fluid. The hoses wear out quickly and need to be checked regularly.

Check your brake fluid

Whether you’re a driver who rarely uses your brakes or a high-use driver who wants to keep your car performing at its best, checking your brake fluid every month is essential to maintaining the health of your system. A low brake fluid level can cause brakes to squeak and not stop, which can be dangerous.

Fortunately, checking your brake fluid is easy. Most reservoirs are translucent, allowing you to see the level without removing the lid.

Once you’ve inspected the reservoir, you can clean it to remove any contaminants that may have fallen in. If you’re unsure what to look for, you can use a brake fluid tester to test the moisture content of your brake fluid.

If you are still determining the test results, you can ask an ASE-certified mechanic. Typically, these technicians can perform a complete brake fluid inspection for you. First, they’ll test your system for moisture and additive package strength. Afterward, they’ll present you with the results.