Car maintenance: 8 elements that you should check periodically

Other aspects such as monitoring the exhaust, oil, or battery will extend the life of the car and improve road safety in general. To avoid future breakdowns or incidents at the wheel, do not lose detail of all the elements you must check in your car.

Items to check in the car

Before delving into the recommendations for the care and maintenance of the car, and each of its pieces or parts, it is important to take into account the importance of driving smoothly, particularly when it is a vehicle with several years of use, in order to avoid different types of faults.

Bearing in mind the above, here are the best maintenance and care tips for each fundamental part of the car:

1. Tires

Tires represent an essential part of any car’s operation and particularly for safety.

In car maintenance, it is important to carry out the necessary care for the correct maintenance of the tires and to have the habit of checking them frequently before using the vehicle. In this way, it will also be detected in a timely manner if there is a lack of pressure in any of them and to verify that their drawing is not less than 1.6 millimeters.

Likewise, the pressure of these must be maintained with the rates recommended by the manufacturer, as well as being attentive to any noise or vibration coming from them or signals at the time of braking, which may indicate the need for change or failures in other associated components that require service by a mechanic.

A visit to the mechanical workshop is recommended at least once a year, according to the tires’ time of use and the mileage traveled annually.

Factors that can affect tire wear are, for example, the way of driving, the type of pavement on which the user frequently travels, weather conditions, etc.

If you need to change some tires, there are very good options for cheap and quality tires on the market.

2. Shock absorbers

Together with the tires, the shock absorbers provide safety and comfort in driving the car since they absorb the impacts of the asphalt during the journey. In addition, they facilitate control of the car in moments of risk or high speed.

Therefore, it is necessary to guarantee its perfect operation, which can be affected by factors such as vehicle load, weather, pavement conditions, and mileage, among others.

On the subject of car care and maintenance, it is convenient to have them checked every 20,000 km traveled in order to determine any failure or wear in a timely manner.

3. Brakes

The brakes represent another fundamental component of the car’s safety and require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition.

Its wear is usually generated little by little and, for this, it is necessary to carry out occasional checks of the pads, discs, and hydraulics, as well as be attentive to any strange sound at the time of braking or if the vehicle tilts towards any of the sides.

As for the brake fluid is recommended to change it every 2 years or after traveling 60,000 km.

Another factor that influences the wear of the vehicle is the way of driving, the conditions of the road, and the number of curves, among others.

The most advisable thing is to carry out an annual review of the brakes in the car’s maintenance. This is by a specialist in order to guarantee its optimal functioning.

4. Lubricants

The oil protects and reduces the wear of the parts that make up the car’s engine, facilitating the transfer of metallic particles to the filter. 

In addition, due to its sealing properties, it prevents leaks within the circuit and contributes to cooling.

The optimal duration of the oil within the system has been increased, thanks to new technologies in its manufacture, currently exceeding up to more than 30,000 km to require its change. 

However, it is recommended not to exceed 15,000 km to avoid causing damage.

It is recommended to check its level every 1,500 km of travel and do it with the vehicle off and at rest. 

Another important point is to follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation to select the right type of oil for the vehicle’s engine.

5. Battery

It is a basic element of the car, which must be in perfect condition because it is its source of energy, which is why it cannot be ignored in car maintenance.

Changes in outside temperature can affect its operation, so it is advisable to protect the car from excessively cold winter climates by keeping the vehicle indoors in the garage.

Another very useful tip is to disconnect the battery in case the car is not going to be used for a long time, since the battery, when connected, even if the vehicle is not in use, will consume electricity until it is completely discharged.

6. Brushes

The windshield wiper blades are our great ally in times of rain, so they must be in perfect condition and slide properly to evacuate all the water, snow, or hail that the windshield receives in order to facilitate the driver’s visibility.

If it is observed that they are generating noises or tarnished areas are left, or they jump in displacement, it will be an indication that they must be replaced by new brushes in the next revision or as soon as possible.

7. Filters

Cars include a variety of filters, such as oil filters, air filters, fuel filters, and cabin filters, which require supervision at least once a year.

• The oil filter must be replaced when changing the oil in the car since it is responsible for retaining the impurities caused by the detachment of metallic particles from the engine.
• The air filter, its change will depend on the conditions of the places where it travels, since, if they are roads or places with a lot of dust generation, they must be replaced more frequently. In any case, when carrying out maintenance on the car, the condition of the filters, in general, should be checked.
• The fuel filter is responsible for removing impurities present in the fuel before reaching the engine, which requires periodic maintenance.
• As for the cabin filters, their mission is to retain the dust particles that are present in the environment and to protect the health of the vehicle’s occupants, mainly for people who suffer from allergies.

8. Exhaust or silent

The care and maintenance of the exhaust are of utmost importance to keep it in the right conditions that reduce the emission of polluting gases into the environment. Additionally, it improves engine performance.

In addition, it favors the comfort of the car’s occupants, reducing the corresponding noise. If you are looking to acquire a good and economical vehicle that is silent, the excellent idea is to opt for a second-hand Mercedes.

Whatever the vehicle you have, apart from the maintenance of the car and all its parts, it is extremely important to be aware of bumps or impacts received along the way, which may affect the performance of the exhaust system, as well as the lights in the board that may indicate any failure in the exhaust system or even in the engine.

Finally, remember, it is very important to carry out periodic reviews as well as the technical vehicle inspections (ITV) recommended by the manufacturer.