Eight Great Things Every Car Owner Should Know

Feb 21, 2024

We understand not everyone is what the industry calls “a gearhead” (a huge enthusiast of all things automotive), but there are a number of things you should know about as an everyday driver and car owner that just make sense. From basic maintenance checks to regular owner inspections and more, here are eight great things you should know to help keep your car in tip-top shape.

Learn when and how to check your fluid levels. Your owner’s manual will guide you to the specific places in your vehicle to check and replenish, but the basics you should monitor include: checking your oil level, antifreeze level, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid level. Make sure that you know how to top off those fluids and when to have them flushed/changed by a professional. It’s also important to make sure you know which specific oil type or blend your vehicle requires, as well as which antifreeze/coolant best serves your regional weather requirements.

Know when to bring your vehicle in for regular maintenance. On average, modern vehicles require oil changes between 3,000 and 6,000 miles, and it’s generally recommended to rotate your tires at that time as well. Every 6,000 miles, you should have an alignment check and adjustment as needed. At the 30,000 mark you should receive a general scheduled maintenance check. At 50,000 miles you can expect to replace your shocks and struts. At 60,000 miles you can be expected to repair or replace belts, hoses, and tires. These mileage requirements depend on the make/model of your vehicle, and your driving habits, so be sure to bring it in for regularly scheduled oil changes for your mechanic to give your vehicle a good once-over.

Understand how to properly stock and maintain an emergency roadside kit. You never want to be caught in the lurch, but of course accidents and emergencies happen anyway! In addition to ensuring you have proper insurance coverage, and purchasing an extra plan with roadside assistance options, it’s important to be prepared in the event of an accident or breakdown. Your car kit should include basic first aid kit, fire extinguisher, reflective warning triangles or LED flares, jumper cables, a tire patch kit, tire gauge, tow rope, duct tape, a warm blanket, and a flashlight at bare minimum.

Learn how to change your tire and put on a spare/donut. In today’s modern age, it’s easy to rely on services such as roadside assistance and GPS apps in your smartphone for tracking and alerting people for help. But what happens when you’re traveling through a “dead zone” or have low reception? What if your vehicle gets a flat tire in an area that’s not exactly convenient to wait at length? Knowing how to change your own tire and place a spare or donut on to get to safety is a vital skill all drivers should know. It’s still fine to call for assistance if you need it, but it’s never bad to be prepared just in case, so practice doing this at least one or two times on your own to be safe.

Learn how to clean and replace your car’s cabin air filter. Your air filter is usually hidden behind your glove box and easy enough to access. It’s important to clean and vacuum this regularly, removing any dirt, dust, debris ….or even dead critters before it becomes a problem! It’s not uncommon in cold weather for small animals and even kittens to crawl under the hood of a vehicle to keep warm, and sometimes they’ll bring a bit of the outside in to insulate them. If you notice that your car smells musty or funky, it’s time to clean or change that air filter!

Limit the amount of weight held on your keyring when putting the keys into the ignition. We love adding a little touch of our personality and special interests to our keyring in the form of keychains, flashlights, little pocket knives for hand tools, and other accoutrement, but the weight can really add up. Hanging a heavy key ring of your ignition can cause damage to your vehicle and it will wear out over time. Avoid costly repairs and aggravation by removing your car key from the heavier overall key-ring before inserting and starting your vehicle!

If your car starts to overheat, you can use your heat system to draw it away from the engine. If you notice the temperature gauge on your car climbing at an alarming rate, it’s still best to pull over in a safe spot as soon as possible. However, you can buy yourself a little more time to get to safety by opening your vehicle’s windows and blasting the heating. It will draw the heat and hot air away from the engine and blow into the cabin and out the windows, making it a safer option while you find a spot pull over. Do not keep driving your vehicle further than necessary if it overheats as you can cause severe damage or even cause the engine to seize or catch fire.

Always keep a spare reserve of cash on hand for unexpected repairs as well as average maintenance costs. When you purchase a vehicle, there are numerous resources online to determine the average cost of repairs for yearly and routine maintenance. You can also check reports for mileage milestone repair costs and set those aside. Things to consider are oil changes, tire rotations, sets of 2 and 4 tires, and general tuneups. We know it can be challenging sometimes to divert money to a vehicle safety net fund, but if you’re able to do so it’s your smartest preparedness plan.