Things Young Car Owners Should Know About Their Cars (Part 1)

Now that you are a young adult, you have to learn certain things. So, do you know your car? There are some things you need to know about your vehicle, how to take care of it, and confidently driving it on the road every single day. Here they are…

Changing a tire

There will come a time that you are driving alone and suddenly you get a flat tire. You cannot depend on another person, but yourself. So, do not panic and just get your tools, which hopefully you stored in the trunk of your car. Get the jack point below, get hold of the airborne, and begin pulling the lug nuts and take them off. Use the start pattern when you fasten them back again. This kind of pattern means they are evenly torqued to eliminate vibrations. Never use an impact gun/wrench as it could destroy the finish of the lug nuts. After having done that, you are safe to drive your car.

Checking the tire pressures

It is not safe to drive your car if your tires are either under inflated or over-inflated. To determine this, you should have a tire-pressure gauge. Press it in the inflation nipple and read your tire’s pressure. Most cars has this early warning in the driver-side door that shows the ideal pressure for both the front and rear tires. This increases the fuel savings, too.

Checking your oil

Use the dipstick which can be found in a lot of internal combustion engines. Pull it and then clean the oil by using a cloth and then put it back. Remove it again, examine the indication levels to know the coverage of the oil.

Cars cannot be handled in the same way

There are ways of driving your car. You use either the front, rear, or all the wheels. The most used of course is the front-wheel drive, which is useful in icy, wet or poorly maintained road. For top cars or high calibre cars, rear wheel drive is mostly used; however, you might lose the rear end if you drive hazardously. Meanwhile, the four-wheel drive is more secure when it comes to road environment as it gives more power to the wheels, and gives it maximum grip. Despite this, you should still drive carefully.

Make a maintenance record to keep track

Do you remember when you last had an oil change? If you can’t, then, it is a good habit to have a maintenance record you can depend on. One quick way of keeping note is to place a duct tape in the engine bay and mark a check on where the fluid reached.

Know how to drive a regular transmission

You won’t have a choice if you are the only person who did not drink too much in the party. It is good if you know how to handle a clutch. Then, everybody goes home safe and sound.

Things you need in your glove box

Registration, insurance papers, flashlight, first aid kit or anything that you deem important.

How to keep the traction in rain or snow

If the weather is cold, easy on the acceleration as you might lose control. If you have a manual transmission, use the higher gears to lessen the possibility of slipping. More on Things Young Car Owners Should Know About Their Cars (Part 2)

Looking for a dependable auto shop? Bring your vehicle to  Chaney’s Collision Center. Since 1977,  Chaney’s Collision Center has been serving the people of Arizona. Whether you are in Phoenix, Glendale, or Surprise, call  Chaney’s Collision Center at (623) 915-2886.