Buying a used car for your business always brings along unsolicited problems and the worry of unexpected breakdowns taking the maintenance costs high up to $800 a month. But, it largely depends on how the used car is being treated. If maintained properly, a used car goes a long way.
Regular maintenance prevents mechanical glitches, common car issues, and retains the overall health of your car.
You can keep your used car in its best shape by taking the below-mentioned tips into account. Read on to get grips with car care basics for used cars.
Basic Tip #1: Keep It Clean And Shiny
Let’s begin with the basics. To keep your car looking brand new, you need to schedule regular cleaning sessions. And, by cleaning, we don’t just mean getting rid of the dirt from the exteriors; you need to wash the exterior and vacuum the interior to get rid of dust and dirt from every nook and corner.
If water doesn’t bead on the car’s surface, you should get it waxed. Waxing will give a nice shine to your car, making it look brand new. Plus, it will also prevent corrosion and rust.
Basic Tip #2: Check The Cooling Systems Regularly
The cooling system is one of the most integral parts of your company car that determine its longevity. To enhance the life and overall performance of your car, you need to take care of your car’s cooling system. Change the coolant every 24,000 to 30,000 miles.
Keep a check on the hoses that transfer coolant to the engine as they tend to crack and leak under extreme heat and pressure. Even replace the water pump and heater hoses if need be.
Basic Tip #3: Take Care Of The Engine
To ensure that your used car always runs smoothly, you need to pay attention to its engine condition. To find out how the engine is working, check the color of the oil. If the oil is jet black with white shavings, appears coagulated, or has metal chunks mixed in it, you should get the engine checked.
To clean the engine, you need to drain the oil, replace the filters and fill it with synthetic oil to remove muck lodged in the crankcase. Also, check the spark plugs and spark plug wires for proper operation.
Basic Tip #4: Change The Car Oil Regularly
Not changing your car oil at regular intervals makes way for friction between the engine’s mobile parts and subsequently leads to damage. Make sure your car parts are well-lubricated by changing oil at regular intervals.
Keep the oil level in check by dipping a clean dipstick. The best time to check the oil level is in the morning when the engine is cold. Also, to get the exact reading, the car should be parked on a flat surface.
Make sure you don’t add a lot of oil in one go. Adding a quart each time is the best way to do so.
Basic Tip #5: Bleed The Brakes
Brake fluid is the lifeblood of the brake system. Bleeding the brakes simply means removing any old brake fluid and trapped air from the brake system. You should bleed your brakes once every 2 years to keep them in good condition. While bleeding your brakes, check the color of the fluid. If it’s clear and amber, the brake system of your car is just fine. But, if the fluid is jet black with rubber chunks, it indicates a serious problem in the system.
Conclusion
The longevity of your used car is directly proportional to how well you take care of it. When you look for auto parts online, you have low-end spare parts for a Toyota to nissan parts online to high-end Mercedes spare parts website as options for your used car.
Whether new or used, if you invest a little time and money in your car, it will run thousands of miles without bothering you. These basic measures will ensure that your used car runs without gifting a frown to your forehead – and put much pressure to your company’s bottom line.
