Used Car Maintenance and Cleaning

Maintenance is an essential part of owning a used car. Usually, once you take ownership of a car from a reputable used car dealer, you will be continuing a routine of good maintenance already set in place by the dealer to maximize the car's value. Now the purpose of maintenance will shift from keeping the car in a condition to sell to keeping the car running and safe for you to drive.
Simple Car Maintenance
These are two words that you may not put hand in hand, simple and car maintenance. However, once you know the basics it’s easy to keep on top of, and you can add a substantial amount onto the life of your car. It’s understandable that not many people want to get their hands dirty or covered in oil, but these basics car maintenance tips will leave you oil free and hopefully better in pocket.
Wiper Blades
Checking your wiper blades is an often over looked part of owning a car. Many people drive around with inadequate wipers, only feeling the need to change them once the blade has decided enough is enough and tears itself from the wiper arm. Checking your blade is incredibly easy, and because seeing out of your car windscreen is pretty important it could save you from a potential accident waiting to happen.
If your wiper blade is making juddering noises, doesn’t wipe the screen in one smooth movement, or has tears on the blade, then it could be curtains. Wiper blades are pretty cheap too, and easy to change yourself with instructions on most boxes. So don’t take the risk!
Washer Fluid
Topping up and checking your washer fluid is another simple task that can easily be done at home. We all know those moments when you notice grime and muck building up on your windscreen, you go to blast it off with your wash fluid and what’s that? A pathetic whine from the washer motor but no liquid. With no bottles of water to clean the windscreen you have to resort to hoping for rain.
However, it can be far easier than waiting for nature to do its thing. Depending on the size of your washer fluid bottle, and the season we’re in it’s worth checking on the levels every month, or before a long journey. Remember, don’t just put clear water into the bottle. Make sure you mix the water evenly with the screen wash fluid. Only putting water in with no screen wash could means the water will freeze due to no anti-freeze being present. This makes cleaning a windscreen pretty hard if the liquid has turned to solids!
Oil Levels
Checking your oil level doesn’t mean getting yourself covered in the black stuff. Before any long journeys, or every month or two take a look at your oil levels. It’s simple enough to do, but could end up saving you thousands in a blown engine if you start running dry.
Locate the dipstick, pull it completely out and wipe it on an old cloth. Put the dipstick all the way back into its hole, pull out and see what level the oil is on the marker. If its low fill it up to mid-way on the marker as overfilling oil is just as dangerous as under filling.
Check out some items you can use for general car maintenance and keep your car in top condition. Why not look at any car trailers for sale to help keep your car clean when you’re going to the dump.

Used cars naturally require more frequent maintenance than new cars and, even with little experience under the hood, most used car owners are able to regularly complete the tasks outlined in this article.
Checking the tires regularly helps ensure the best handling and fuel consumption. You should check the pressure of your tires a few times a month with a tester that can either be purchased from most automotive accessory stores or found at some gas stations. It is recommended to purchase your own tire tester for use at home as, once you have driven to the gas station, the air in your tires will have warmed up, leading to an inaccurate reading.
The ideal tire pressure for your car can be found either in the owner's manual or printed inside the car.
An often overlooked maintenance task, particularly in areas with infrequent rainfall, is checking the windshield wipers. Windshield wipers that are cracked or have become bowed in a way that limits their contact with the glass should be replaced straight away.
Vacuuming the inside of your car is a quick way to get most dirt out before you take to the interior with a damp cloth.
Remove all the mats and seat covers that can be easily removed and vacuum them outside the car. The floors will be easier to vacuum without the mats in your way.
With the vacuuming complete, use a cloth damp with water to wipe the dashboard, door panels and any other areas that require cleaning.
To stay safe, and to avoid run-ins with the law, be sure to check your lights are working regularly. You should check your head lights, brake lights, tail lights and signal lights before you begin driving. If you do not have access to a second person to stand outside the car and tell you if your brake lights are working, just move your car close to your garage door or other moderately reflective surface and watch for the reflection of your lights.
While you can do many tasks yourself, a regular maintenance check-up and tune-up should be sought from a professional mechanic. In most tune-ups, mechanics will ensure the proper operation of your brakes, battery, air filter, fan belts, wheel bearings and shock absorbers. Spark plugs may also be replaced and your tires may be rotated and aligned.
A professional check-up is recommended every 20,000 miles to ensure the safe and reliable running of your used car.