How to Maintance a Car #10

With so much emphasis on car buying, few people consider the maintenance requirements of an automobile. The modern car may have as many as 75,000 parts, and the malfunction of just one can make your car behave very strangely. Maintaining a car in good condition will help you to keep it safe, drive it for a long time, and someday sell it for a better price.

• Stay in touch with your mechanic and ask questions! Mechanics are used to people asking car questions, and most handle the questions admirably. If a mechanic isn't in the mood to give you two minutes to answer a question, ask whether he would take the time to maintain the machine you will drive down the freeway at 65 miles per hour.
• Read your owner's manual. It has lots of information specific to your car.
• If anything seems out of place, have it checked as soon as possible. An unusual smell, a new noise, a vibration, a new light on the instrument panel coming on, anything, have it checked! As a driver, your responsibility is to maintain your car to be as safe as possible, for your sake, and the sake of those with whom you share the road.
• Track your mileage and fuel economy. Not only will you learn to save fuel and drive more moderately, but you will notice if something changes about your fuel efficiency. A drop in miles per gallon can signal a maintenance problem. Track your oil changes in your mileage log, too.
• In the trunk (or whatever storage are the car has) it is wise to keep a rag for checking the various fluids, a tire pressure gauge, and a flashlight specifically for maintenance uses.