By now, you must know the rationale behind maintaining a home or an office space: it keeps the said space clean and functional, makes it pleasurable for its occupants, and inspires productive activity. And that rationale should extend not only to a house or a work environment—it should also apply to another space you frequent, that of your trusted everyday drive.There’s a definite logic to keeping your Vehicle Spick-and-Span. If you don’t, you’ll subject it to permanent cosmetic or mechanical problems—and any of those could cost you money to fix, lower your vehicle’s value, and shorten its overall service life. Unfortunately, many car and truck owners fail to prioritize their vehicle maintenance and neglect their condition over time. It’s time to change the mindset that car and truck maintenance is difficult or costly. Once an owner gets in the habit, taking care of a vehicle will be easy. It will also save them lots of money, and it will guarantee the vehicle’s reliability for more years to come.
Do you want to re-orient yourself with the basics of car cleaning and maintenance? Here are six sure-fire tips for keeping any vehicle in tip-top condition.
- Find a source of replacement parts for older cars. Worn-out and defunct parts will not only stick out like a sore thumb on your car or truck, keeping them on your vehicle long after they cease to be functional could endanger its performance. Finding a credible source for replacement parts is particularly important for cars and trucks that have hit the ten-year mark. Luckily, Christchurch car owners are spoilt for choice with a supplier like Hi Tech Auto Parts World, who can provide parts as well as expert advice on snug fitment.
- Change your oil every 6,000 to 7,000 kilometers. If blood is important to regulate the functions of the human body, the same can be said of oil to a car’s engine. A regular oil change every three months or when your vehicle’s notched 6,000 to 7,000 kilometers—whichever comes first—will ensure that the engine stays in good condition and that your drive will feel smooth all throughout.
- Pay special attention to your tyres. Tyres are another set of external components that deserve some extra care from you. Make sure to check your tyre pressure regularly, and watch out for how well your tyres hold up during New Zealand’s colder and wetter months. When there’s a perceivable difference in their tread depth and in the appearance of their tread grooves, it’s time to replace your tyres.
- Wash and wax your vehicle’s exterior. A gentle wash and a new coat of wax twice a year will not only keep your car or truck handsome to look at but it will also protect the vehicle’s exterior from permanent damage due to rust and grime build-up. You may also want to consider acquiring a car cover—or a cover for your truck bed—to further shield it from the elements.
- Mind your windows and side mirrors. Both your windows and your side mirrors should gleam and enable crystal-clear vision on behalf of you and your passengers. Not only will this keep them neat and pleasing to the eye, but it will also improve visibility within your car, truck, or SUV and safeguard you from various driving hazards.
- Wipe down and vacuum your car’s interiors. Lastly, spruce up your vehicle’s interiors by clearing out any rubbish, debris, or other clutter on the seats and floors. To make it easier to reach the vehicle’s inside corners and collect even the smallest particles of dirt, you can subject it to an occasional vacuuming routine. Don’t forget to maintain the air conditioning as well, so as to keep the vehicle’s overall air quality clean and healthy.
In the context of house cleaning, author Meagan Francis once argued that cleaning is a practice and not a project. You can heed a similar approach when maintaining your beloved car, SUV, or truck. Don’t limit maintenance to a one-off project; instead, make it a regular practice!
