Make Your Car Last Forever Good Car Maintenance Tips

Make Your Car Last Forever with the help of some Good Car Maintenance Tips from this video.

With the car care tips on this video maybe we can get to make your car last forever,

How to make your car last a long time? Well with care, keeping up a good car maintenance schedule, some elbow grease, and the love you have for your car.

Simple, timely car maintenance will increase the life of your car for many years.

This video talks about the simple car maintenance that can be done.

We have listed the usual time for the parts that you can check.

Tips To Make Your Car Last Longer

[social_warfare]This car care tips video is brought to us by the Automotive Youtube Channel Engineering Explained. Check them out for more car care tips videos.

Check out some of the best ways to make your car last longer.

• Simple Car Maintenance
• Perform A Tire Inspection
  • The Tire Thread Depth
  • The Tire Pressure
  • How is The Tire Wearing
• Perform a Brake Inspection
• Inspect Your Shock Absorber
• Checking Fluids Under The Hood
  • Change Engine Oil Between 5,000 and 7,000 Miles
  • Replace Power Steering Fluid Every 70,000 to 100,000 Miles
  • Flush Brake Fluid System Every 2 Years or 30,000 Miles
  • Change Car Coolant Every 2 to 3 Years
  • Replenish Transmission Fluid Level Every 30,000 Miles
  • Refill Windshield Wiper Fluid as Needed
• How Often to Check Car Air Filters
• Replace Cabin Air Filters Between 15,000 and 30,000 Miles
• Replace Windshield Wiper Blades 6 to 12 Months
• Check Your Car Battery At Least Twice a Year
• Check All Your Car Lights Monthly
• Final Words To Make Your Car Last Forever

We have added the transcription for the video above so that you can read it if you wish.  We added subtitles, timestamps, and our own comments to some sections.

Along with more information so that together we can make your last for a very long time.

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Simple Car Maintenance Will Make Your Car Last Forever

[social_warfare]taking the time to inspect your car often to make sure everything works is one of the ways to make your car last longer.

[00:00] Hello, everyone, and welcome to this video. I have teamed up with Progressive, and we’re going to be talking about simple checks that you can make on your car at home.

And I would recommend doing this at least every six months, if not more often than that.

Certainly some of these items you will want to check more often than once every six months.

But these are simple checks that you can do at home to make sure your car is in good running condition. [00:20]

Perform A Tire Inspection

[social_warfare]Why should you inspect your tires? Performing a good tire inspection would allow you to see the condition of your tires and if they will need to be replaced soon or not.

How often to perform a tire inspection? A simple rule of thumb to follow is that after you fill your tires, they lose about one PSI per month.

So checking them once a month can help you guarantee that they are always inflated to the right pressure. In the summer, you won’t notice as many tire pressure warning lights, but you should still check them frequently.

[00:21] So we’re going to start with the exterior of the vehicle looking at the tires, the brakes, the suspension.

And then we will dive under the hood and start looking at filters as well as fluid checks.

Now, starting with the tires, there’s three things we want to be looking at…

• The Tread Depth
• The Tire Pressure
• and How The Tire is Wearing

[00:36]

The Tire Thread Depth

[00:37] Now, starting with the tread depth on all tires you’ll have these wear bar indicators, so you’ll notice them within the grooves.

And so what these indicators tell you?

If you roll your finger across from one tread block over to the next over top of one of these tread wear indicators, and it runs perfectly smooth across rather than falling down into the groove and then back up.

If it runs perfectly smooth across, then that means you need to replace your tires. [01:01]

You can also try the Penny Test to see if you have enough thread to either keep or replace that tire. You can find out more about the penny test on our post 50 General Automotive Hacks and Tips.

The Tire Pressure

[01:02] Next, it’s important to make sure your tires are properly inflated.

You’ll find the tire pressure information on the inside of your door jam or within your owner’s manual.

And you want to make sure that this tire pressure doesn’t get too low because this can result in uneven wear or fuel economy and increase your chances for hydroplaning. [01:18]

How is The Tire Wearing

[01:19] And finally, we get to tread wear. So if you look at your tire and you notice that the center of the tire is wearing down more than the outside of the tire, then that probably indicates your tire pressure is too high.

If the outsides are worn down but the center isn’t as much, then your tire pressure is likely too low.

And if you notice that one side of a tire is wearing far more than the other side, then it likely means you need your alignment readjusted. [01:43] 

Perform a Brake Inspection

[social_warfare]Why Should You Perform a Brake Inspection? Your brakes must be in good working order in order for you to be safe. Having your brakes inspected often can verify that all of the components are functioning properly. When brakes deteriorate, they become ineffective very quickly.

How Often Should I Perform a Brake Inspection? Your brakes should be tested at least once every six months. To avoid forgetting, most individuals have this done at the same time as their tires are rotated. If you can’t remember the last time your braking system was evaluated by a professional, make an appointment as soon as possible.

[01:44]  Next, we’re going to inspect the brakes. Now, I’ve removed the wheel using the spare tire kit from the back of the vehicle, but oftentimes you won’t actually have to remove the wheel.

You can simply look through the holes in the wheel and look at your brake pads.

So looking at a brake pad, a new brake pad will typically have around 12 millimeters of pad material remaining, and you want to start thinking about replacing it once that pad material gets down to about three millimeters.

If you’ve only got one or 2 millimeters left of pad material, you want to replace those brake pads.

Oftentimes, when these brake pads get down to about three millimeters, they’ll have a metal indicator in there and you’ll start hearing a screeching sound from your brakes, letting you know that it’s time to replace them. [02:22] 

Millimeters to Inches Conversion

• 12 Millimeters = 0.472441 Inches
• 3 Millimeters = 0.11811 Inches
• 2 Millimeters = 0.0787402 Inches

Inspect Your Shock Absorber

[social_warfare]Why Should You Inspect Your shock absorber? The suspension of your automobile is essential for safe driving since it prevents excessive sway and bounce when turning and helps your tires maintain constant contact with the road surface. The difference between a confident, joyful driving experience and a difficult-to-handle, stressful one can be determined by your car’s shock absorber.

How often to Check Your shock absorber? Shocks and struts, like all other car parts and systems, have a maintenance schedule. According to auto repair specialists, they should be replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the amount of wear and tear they’ve endured.

[02:23] Moving on to the shock absorber, you want to make sure you don’t see any fluid leaking out of the damper.

You also want to look for any visual damage on the shock or on the Springs and make sure everything looks like it’s in good working condition.

And again, you don’t have to remove the wheels to do this.

You can simply rotate your steering wheel all the way to one side, look in from that angle, rotate the steering wheel all the way to the other side, and then look in from the other angle. [02:45] 

Checking Fluids Under The Hood

[social_warfare]Why should you check under the hood of your car? While it is no longer as important as it once was, looking beneath the hood on a regular basis might help prevent problems from becoming costly. With self-service gas stations springing up all over the place, it’s often the only way to get it done.

If you want to Make Your Car Last for a very long time your car fluids is something that you have to make sure to check as often as possible.

How often should you check the fluids under the hood? Engine fluids like oil and transmission fluids have different times that they need to be checked.

• How often should you check the engine oil level? Some experts advocate checking your oil every time you fill up your tank, but for modern vehicles, once a month should suffice. Older cars at least once a week. Read our OIL Change Service Post for more info.
• Check Power Steering Fluid Levels – If you check your power steering fluid once a month, it may never need to be replaced. If your power steering fluid is low, it may simply need to be filled off, but if it does, you likely have a leak somewhere in the system.
• When to check brake fluid level? – Check your brake fluid whenever you get your oil changed, and replenish it every two years.
• When to check the Coolant Level? – Check your coolant levels at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Every 2 to 3 years, your coolant should be replenished.
• How often should you check the Transmission Fluid level? Transmission fluid should be checked every time you change your oil, and it should be replenished every 30,000 miles.
• Check Windshield Wiper Fluid – You can do this one at the same time you check the oil.  Is not used very often so you may not have to refill it for months at a time.

Change Engine Oil Between 5,000 and 7,000 Miles

When to change the Engine Oil? Well, it depends.  It used to be that you had to change the oil when you reached 3,000 miles. Today’s modern oil has changed the need to change the engine oil between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. On the other hand, if your car requires full-synthetic oil you can stretch that to every 15,000 Miles.

I would definitely recommend reading your car owner’s manual to make sure.

Did you know you can turn your engine to run on water? Find out how here.

[02:46] Okay. Now Let’s take a look underneath the hood.

Now, the first thing we’re going to look at is the engine oil.

So you’re going to want to find the dipstick and pull it out. And as you pull it out, we’re going to wipe down the entire thing using a towel.

So we’re going to clean it off. That way, we can get a good reading once we insert it back in.

So once we know that it’s clean, stick it right back in, and then we’re going to pull that out and read it.

And so looking at the dipstick, once it’s pulled out, after you’ve cleaned it off and then stuck it back in and then pulled it out once more, you will see that there are two little indicators.

So there’s a hole right there and there’s another hole right here. And so you want your oil level to be somewhere between these two.

And you can see that here it’s right at the end, right at the high fill line.

Now, if it’s right towards the bottom or if you don’t see any oil, you might want to add about half a quart to the engine and then recheck the engine oil level using the dipstick and add as needed.

You want to make sure, though, that it lies between these two indicators.

Now, as far as how frequent you should be changing the oil, refer to your owner’s manual.

And one thing you also may want to look for is if you see a milkiness in the oils color that can indicate that coolant is getting in within your engine oil.

And so that’s a big problem. You don’t want to have that happening.

So just make sure that it’s either clear or starting to get darkish.

That darkish color comes from the oil-holding contaminants before you change it out. [04:11]

Replace Power Steering Fluid Every 70,000 to 100,000 Miles

How often to replace the power steering fluid? The good news, this one lasts a lot longer.  Power steering fluid should be replaced every 70,000 to 100,000 Miles

Why should you check your power steering fluid level? The power steering fluid might become polluted, depleted, or burnt.

These flaws cause the power steering system to malfunction, which is dangerous.

You may find it difficult to turn the wheels, resulting in an accident.

What is the best way to avoid this? Check power steering fluid at least once a month and make any necessary adjustments.

How to Check Your Power Steering Fluid

1. Warm Up The Power Steering Fluid – Warming the fluid allows you to get a more accurate reading of its level. Start your car and let it idle for a few minutes. Then turn the steering wheel from left to right 3 or 4 times all the way. After that turn off the engine.
2. Locate the Power Steering Reservoir – The reservoir’s position is determined by the vehicle’s make. The reservoir is clearly marked, so you may forgo the online search and attempt to find it on your own.
3. Open The Reservoir and Check Fluid Levels – Once you open the reservoir you will notice a dipstick will be attached to the cap. The dipstick is marked with measurements. Take it out, clean it out, re-insert it into the reservoir, and then remove it to get the proper readings
4. Refill to The Proper Level – Once the fluid level drops below a certain level, you must replenish it. Because power steering fluids differ from vehicle to vehicle, make sure you’re using the right one. The use of the incorrect fluid might cause the entire system to malfunction, necessitating a replacement.

[04:12] Now, depending on your vehicle, you’re going to have different fluids that you need to check.

So for example, this vehicle has electronic power steering, so there’s no power steering fluid to check. [04:20]

Flush Brake Fluid System Every 2 Years or 30,000 Miles

It is very easy to check the brake fluid level. This is a task that would take you a minute or so to perform.

How often to replace brake fluid? It is recommended that every 2 years or 30,000 miles you should perform a brake fluid flush.

4 Easy Steps to Check Your Brake Fluid Level

1. Find the brake fluid reservoir – It’s normally placed on or near the firewall near the back of the engine compartment, almost right in front of the brake pedal on the other side of the bulkhead.
2. Check brake fluid level – Wipe the exterior of the reservoir clean before opening it to avoid debris from entering the brake fluid. To inspect the level, pry the clamp to one side and then lift it off the top.
3. Fill Up To The Proper Level – Make sure the “full” line is clearly highlighted. If the brake fluid level is low, fill the Full line with brake fluid.
4. Close Everything Up – Replace the cap top and double-check that it is securely fastened. You’ve completed the task!

[04:21] You do want to check the brake fluid. So you’ll see a Max and a minimum indicator line on the brake fluid reservoir.

And so you want to make sure that the brake fluid is between those two lines. [04:29] 

Change Car Coolant Every 2 to 3 Years

It is always a good idea to check your coolant level at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Change car coolant every 2 to 3 years.

Steps to Check Your Coolant Levels

1. Open up the hood
2. Find your coolant reservoir
3. See where the current coolant level is
4. If the coolant level is low, grab a funnel and refill it to level 
5. Close everything up and make sure the lid is secure 
6. You are done 

[04:30] You’ll see the same thing on your coolant reservoir. So somewhere near your radiator or coming from your radiator.

You’ll have an expansion tank for the radiator, and you’ll see a min and a Max line.

You want to make sure that the coolant falls between the min and the Max line.

And, of course, top off your windshield washer fluid as needed. [04:45]

Transmission Fluid Level Replenish Every 30,000 Miles

Checking transmission fluid levels is such an easy task and it can save you thousands in the long run.

A low automatic transmission fluid level may damage your transmission.  Make sure that the fluid level is always up to par.

Transmission fluid should be checked every time you change your oil, and it should be replenished every 30,000 miles.

We recommend the Castrol Transmission Fluid as it has enhanced friction durability for smooth transmission performance. Find it here on Amazon.

How to Check Transmission Fluid Level? 

Check the level of your transmission in 6 easy steps.

1. Park on level ground, start your engine, set your parking brake. Warm up the engine for about 10 minutes or so
2. Pop up the hood and locate your transmission dipstick. It looks like the oil dipstick.
3. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, and re-insert all the way, then take it out it again.
4. Note where the transmission level is marked on the dipstick.
5. If the transmission fluid level is low, find a long funnel and add more transmission fluid.
6. Replace the dipstick, close the hood, and you are done.

Refill Windshield Wiper Fluid as Needed

Checking the windshield wiper fluid is by far the easiest thing that you can do under the hood of your car.

You simply pop the hood, find the reservoir, pop the lid, see the level and Refill the Windshield Wiper Fluid as Needed.

We suggest the HS 2 in 1 Bug Wash Windshield Washer Fluid. Formulated with advanced technology. Streak-free shine and will instantly remove bugs & road grime. Find it here on Amazon

Close the hood and you are done.

Change Car Air Filters Between 12,000 and 15,000 Miles

[social_warfare]How often to check car air filters? Depending on your car it is advised to replace an air filter between 12,000 and 15,000 miles.

If you drive in a very dusty area perhaps you should check it every 8,000 to 10,000 miles to see if it needs it sooner than the norm.

You may be able to blow some of the dust and particles with a shop vac (in reverse) or an air compressor and stretch a few 1000 miles out of your air filter.

Check out our post that talks about the car filters that should be replaced to keep up with maintenance.

[04:46] Next, we move on to filters, and there are two filters which we’re going to want to inspect, the first of which is the engine air filter.

And oftentimes these actually don’t require tools to gain access to.

You can simply pull these out and inspect with just some clips which are used on this.

And you can see there is a little bit of debris in there, but overall, it looks pretty good, still very clean.

You can shake out some of that debris and then put that back in or replace it with a new filter. [05:13] 

Replace Cabin Air Filters Between 15,000 and 30,000 Miles

What is a cabin air filter? Automotive cabin air filters will filter the air that comes to the inside of your car.

Most cars have cabin air filters.

Oftentimes this is are a filter that most people do not think about often or at all.

To tell the truth I did not know about these filters till a few years ago.  And I have worked on cars for years before that.

How long do cabin air filters last? Cabin air filters should be replaced between 15,000 and 30,000 miles.

If you have to replace one make sure to use top-rated cabin air filters as they will last longer.

[05:14] The second filter we want to check is the cabin air filter.

So you’ll generally find this behind the glove box, and it usually won’t require any tools to remove.

Simply pop that out and inspect. So this one’s looking okay. It’s definitely got some debris in there.

So I’ll tap some of this out and perhaps consider replacing this fairly soon.

There is a good amount of kind of dirt and debris stuck in there and go ahead and slide that back in, and then we’ll place the glove box back in. [05:39] 

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Replace Windshield Wiper Blades 6 to 12 Months

[social_warfare]What are wiper blades for? A good many car accidents are due to people not being able to see clearly.  That’s why working wiper blades are very important. Wiper blades help to remove snow, ice, dust pollen, and the occasional bird poop dropping from your windshield.

How often should car wiper blades be replaced? Generally, windshield wiper blades should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.  depending on your location and how often you use them they make have to be replaced sooner.

[05:40] It’s also a good idea to check out your Wiper blades. You want to make sure that it’s a nice, smooth, continuous surface that doesn’t have any cracks in it, and that the rubber isn’t starting to deteriorate.

It’s still flexible so that it maintains good contact with your windshield. [05:54]

Check Your Car Battery At Least Twice a Year

Take some time to check your car battery at least twice a year.

Make sure it has enough power, battery terminals are clean, all your lights turn on with enough brightness, and that your car battery is in good condition.

Check out our post Questions About Car Batteries for more information on how to go about checking your battery.

Check All Your Car Lights Monthly

[social_warfare]Why should you check your car lights? Checking your car lights often would make sure that you are being seen and are able to properly see things on the road.

Another thing to consider is that a simple brake light that is not working may cause you to be stopped by the police.

We recommend that once a month to at least check all your lights to make sure they all work.

[05:55] And finally, you want to make sure that all of your lights are working properly. So your headlights, your indicators, and then for your brake lights.

You can either have a friend check the brake lights for you while you press on the brake pedal.

Or you can set up a mirror or perhaps use your phone and record them and make sure that all of your brake lights are working. [06:11]

250 Experts Real Car Tips

[social_warfare]Real car tips video from people who have been taking care of cars for many years.

Nothing like getting 250 Real Car Tips From from a professional to show you the proper way around your car. Read Article

Final Words To Make Your Car Last Forever

[06:12] So hopefully this has provided you with some useful information, easy stuff to check over on your car, but it can save you a headache in the long run.

And it could save you some money as well if you catch a problem early.

So thank you all for watching. And, of course, thank you to Progressive for partnering on this video. [06:27]

We Hope You Like The Tips to Make Your Car Last Forever Post

[social_warfare]Good car maintenance will increase the chance of your car to live for a very long time.

Please let us know which one is your favorite way to make your car last forever in the comments below.

This car care tips video is brought to us by the Automotive Youtube Channel Engineering Explained. Check them out for more ways to make your car last a long time.

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If you have any ways to make your car last tips that you would like to add to the list, please simply leave them in the comments or contact us and let us know.