The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning and Maintaining a Vehicle

Maintaining a vehicle correctly is critical to keep it running for a long time while looking great. The way you maintain your vehicle will also make a world of difference when you try to sell it. A properly maintained car will sell for much more than a poorly maintained one, and you’ll likely sell it much faster too. This is why you need to know how to take care of a vehicle before considering buying one. Let’s look at some of the dos and don’ts when cleaning and maintaining a vehicle.

Do — Know How to Check Fluids

One of the essential parts of maintaining a vehicle is making sure that all of the fluids are in order. Knowing when to make oil changes is the first thing you need to know, and you should always pay attention to your oil change schedule.

One thing you should know, however, is that you can’t go with a fixed mileage for oil changes. It all depends on your motor type and the lubricant you use. There was a time when it was recommended that you change your oil every 3000 miles, but we have better lubricants now, and most cars will only require that you change your oil every 5000 miles to 7000 miles.

The only way to know how long your car can run between oil changes is to check the car’s owner’s manual. It will not only tell you when to change the oil but also when to change things like your power steering oil, brake oil, coolant, and various other fluids in your vehicle.

Don’t — Let Dirt Accumulate

One of the worst things you can do is go too long between washes. You should wash your vehicle at least once every two weeks, but it would be better to aim for once every seven to ten days. Keeping the car clean is very important if you want to prevent corrosion and your paint from deteriorating too quickly. This is especially true if you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow in the winter. The salt and additives they put on the roads are extremely abrasive and can literally pierce holes through a car’s body, so do not take this lightly.

If you want to make things convenient for you, it could be a good idea to look for a carwash that has multiple locations around the city. Try to check if they have both an automatic car wash and hand washing stations, as they both have their benefits. One example of a carwash that has all of that and more is Sundance Carwash. Click here if you want to know where to find Sundance Carwash near you.

Do — Check Your Tires Often

You cannot neglect the tires on your vehicle since they can affect your driving experience and so many other things. The state of your tires can affect how much fuel you consume, how much damage your car’s suspension will suffer, and your level of safety as well.

You also have to know when it’s time to replace your tires. One old trick is to use a penny and put it inside one of the treads with Lincoln’s head facing up. If the head completely disappears, then it’s a sign that your tires are okay, but if you can still see the top of the head or you can see half of it, then it’s time to change them.

You need to invest in a good tire gauge and know how to use it too. The proper level of pressure for a tire should be marked on its side. Make sure that you double-check the pressure in the tire in cold or hot weather. This is because the air temperature will have a direct effect on pressure.

Don’t — Use Dishwasher Soap to Clean the Car

If you truly care about the car and its paint, you should buy a proper car washing soap and the right equipment. You can’t clean it with dish soap and some random cloth. Dish soap can cause damage to a car’s polish after a while, and car washing soap is made specifically to give you a nice shine. You’ll also notice that your car will look clean for longer if you use soap that was made for cleaning cars.

One thing you have to understand about dish soap is that it is made to cut through grease. This is a problem when considering that most polishes and waxes are made of grease. So, don’t use dish soap or any kind of detergent that is not made for cars on your vehicle unless you’re intentionally trying to strip the wax coat off.

Do — Learn the Difference Between Wax and Polish

Wax and polish are not the same, but they can both help keep your car looking sparkling clean while protecting the paint underneath. Using both will allow you to preserve your car’s look and value. The main difference between car polish and wax is that wax is not abrasive. Wheel polish will strip out the clear layer and fill minor cracks and will need to be finished with a buffer. Polishing is more of an in-depth treatment, while the wax is pretty much like nail polish for a car. This is why it should be applied more often. It is usually recommended that you wax your car every three to four months and polish it at least once a year.

Don’t — Neglect the Underbody

Some people will own a vehicle for years without ever thinking about having the undercarriage motor cleaned. But it’s very important to have it cleaned every season since it will get a rough beating, especially in the winter. Not cleaning it can lead to corrosion and irreversible damage, and damage to a car undercarriage can total a vehicle, so be very careful here and either learn how to perform an undercarriage clean or find a garage that can perform it for you.

Last Words

Maintaining your vehicle properly should be a priority for you if you want to keep your car in perfect order and make sure that you get some value from them when it comes time to sell. Follow these do’s and don’ts to the letter and keep learning tips on how to clean and maintain your car the right way if you want to protect your investment.