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Extend The Life Of Your New Or Used Car
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by:
Ryan Larson
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You don't think much about your car do you?
Your car sits outside 24/7, 365 days a year in all extremes of weather.
You routinely drive it at speeds that exceed 70 mph. You stop, start,
stop, start through city traffic. You sit idling in traffic jams day
after day. Yet, you expect your car to start every time you get into it
and turn the key.
The best thing that you can do to extend the life of your car, and to
potentially save yourself a bundle of money, is to have your car
serviced on a routine basis. All car manufacturers have a schedule of
recommended services for each vehicle they sell. Follow this schedule.
The best place to have work done on a new vehicle that is still under
warranty is the dealership.
It's a bit different when you have an older, out of warranty car. At
this point you can make a decision to continue to use the dealer for
service, or find yourself a local mechanic.
The first rule of thumb is to have the oil in your car changed every
3,000 miles. This is the simplest and most important part of routine
maintenance for your car. At that time, whether you go to a "speedy"
oil change business or to your mechanic, the technician will take a
look at the overall condition of your engine. They'll check belts and
hoses and fluid levels of your transmission and brakes. They'll check
your air cleaner and the condition of your tires. Some of these drive
through services also offer add on's such as engine cleaning and
radiator flushes. If they think they see something that could become
potentially serious they will tell you about it and suggest you take
your car to a mechanic.
Cars have really changed over the years and most technicians use
computers to diagnose problems. You'll need to be able to describe the
problem to the mechanic. They'll need to know things such as when you
first noticed the problem and exactly under what condition it happens.
Does it happen when the car is cold, or after it warms up? Does it
happen when you're at an idle or when your accelerating? If you don't
use the same mechanic have a copy of your car's service record with you
so that the new mechanic can see what maintenance been done in the
past. It's best to find a mechanic you're comfortable with and stay
with him. Knowing your car's history can go a long way towards helping
him diagnose and fix a problem.
Learn to listen to your car. If you hear an unusual noise, notice a
change in it's performance or handling take it to your mechanic.
About the author:
This article courtesy of http://www.bmw-owners-guide.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
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