For people who love driving, the car is the centre of the universe.
It gives you your private space and the much needed break from the rest
of your day. A lot of people go on long drives to unwind. Many use
their car everyday as their only mode of transport. But cars too need
plenty of tender loving care so they can serve you well and for many
years to come.
Let's look at some must-dos to keep your car like new.
Car Care - The Body of the Car
The body or the outside or the shell of the car requires a lot of
attention because being exposed to different weather conditions in
India can take a toll on it. Regularly cleaning your car can keep it
looking spanking new for up to 10-12 years! Cleaning your car regularly
does not mean you drag it to a car wash everyday. You can take out 5
minutes every couple of days to just wipe the body or have somebody do
it for you. You can wash the car on weekends, using some shampoo or
mild soap.
When you wash your car, make sure you clean it thoroughly. Pay
attention to the nooks and corners near the headlights, the grill, the
wheels, windshield wipers, etc. As for the insides of your car, there
are a lot of products available that you can use to clean it. Always
use mild soap to clean the dashboard and make sure you do not spill
anything on the electronics.
As for the upholstery, you only need to wipe it gently with a
wet cloth, and then a dry one. The floor mats should be cleaned
thoroughly because they tend to collect dirt and dust a lot. If you
have a car rug, make sure it's washed regularly, because spills and
other substances that fall on them can make the rug smell a lot.
You take your car to a good car wash in the locality once a
month. Car washes are very effective at preserving the paint of your
car. They are highly detailed and make sure no corrosive substance is
left on the surface of your car. Car washes also wax your car which
ensures no grime or dirt sticks to the body easily. A car wax once in
two months is good enough for your car.
Rustproofing Your Car
Service centers,
garages and car washes also offer rust-proof treatment, under coating
and Teflon coating. These are especially useful if you live in a
coastal area or any area with high humidity. The humidity tends to
affect different parts of the car by making them rust or corroded.
Coating or rust-proofing covers these parts with a thin chemical coat
ensuring that the harmful elements in the atmosphere do not reach them.
Even if you do not live in an area where the salt content in
the atmosphere is high, it is good to get your car coated with some
chemical (like PVC) to ensure that the car body has a longer life. PVC
coating and under coating also ensures that any liquids that splash on
to your car body while driving do not corrode it.
Car Care - The Car Parts
There is a lot of complicated machinery inside your car that
works in beautiful harmony to ensure you have a pleasant safe drive.
All it asks for in return is regular servicing
and maintenance! Just driving over to the local garage and getting it
serviced is not enough for your car. Ensuring the car's inner parts are
in good condition translates into more mileage, less maintenance costs
and less frequent trips to the garage.
You should find out how your car works and what parts need
special attention, so that you too can ensure your vehicle is getting
the right treatment. Firstly, engine oil needs to be changed regularly.
This is to ensure that the moving parts inside your engine do not face
friction while working. Check the air filters next. Clean air filters
contribute greatly to your mileage.
Similarly, have the radiator, fan belt, brakes, clutch, air
conditioning system etc. checked on a regular basis to ensure your car
is in pristine condition.
Car Care - Good Practices
Prevention is always better than cure! Following these tips for
car care will ensure that you do not run into trouble while on the
road.
1) Make sure you maintain a handbook about your car. You can
note down servicing dates, important things to check and other such
information. This helps you periodically check the car for faults, and
cars with such handbooks always fetch a higher price in the used cars
market!
2) Get car insurance. It is extremely useful if you need to get any major repair done on your automobile.
3) The alignment of your car tyres should also be checked
regularly. Wrong alignment of the wheels poses a high risk while
driving.
4) Failure of the brakes and clutch can be quite dangerous
while on a trip. Therefore, make sure you have these checked on a
regular basis.
5) Read the manual of your car thoroughly. This way you can not only
prevent mishaps, but also ensure you do not get conned by unethical
service centers or garages. You can also learn more about cars by
visiting popular car forums.
6) You need to check the tyre pressure of your car regularly.
Different climatic conditions can play with your tyre quality. Good
drivers make a quick check of their tyres each time they drive.
7) Different weather requires different modifications and care
techniques for your car. Speak to your local mechanic or knowledgeable
car owners about car care for weather conditions in your area. Doing
this ensures each drive is a safe one.
So go ahead and pamper your car. It just means more pleasant driving for you!
Do you take good care of your car? When was the last time you had it serviced and washed? Do you know a lot about your car's insides?
Rajan
Good! I' d been looking for some basics on car care, but most car sites use such complicated terms and advice and car part names that I never get it. This works for me, thanks a lot!...
Carzilla
Actually , you learn about car care over time. The way people treat their cars sometimes disgusts me. Just keeping the outside of the car shiny is absolutely useless, yaar, you MUST love the car compl...
Neato
i actually wat to know more about rustproofing... what exactly is this, is it the same as teflon coating... becoz i have done teflon coating and its not too effective at protecting the car...and i hav...
