Maintenance Checklist For College Students
This year, do not get stuck in the freezing weather on the long drives home for thanksgiving and winter break! Complete the following checklist, and experience smooth sailing all the way through Fall semester.
1. Get an Inspection
Get a complete vehicle inspection by your local mechanic. The inspection will give you peace of mind: any big or small issues should come up during an inspection so there are no surprises later on. Make sure the technicians give you recommendations on things you need repaired or replaced now, as well as give you an idea of what you might need to get done throughout the year so you can budget ahead of time.
If you are looking to schedule one through us, click here.
2. Check and Refill Fluids
You should have your local mechanic check all the essential fluids in your car. A few of the fluids to pay particular attention to are the: motor oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, air conditioning coolant and windshield wiper fluid.
Some of these are simple enough to check on your own at home (for example wiper fluid), however many require a technician (such as the coolant). Making sure your fluids are up to date, will make sure that whatever you put your car through it will get you to where you need to go. If the fluids run low or out, the car could stop running, become damaged or very difficult to drive so make sure check all fluids frequently. If you would like to schedule one of our mechanics to take a look, click here.
3. Test and Clean Your Car Battery
There's no bigger bummer than getting to your car and it not starting. Getting a battery test will allow you to find out how much longer your battery will last. If the battery still has a lot of life left, clean the terminals of debris or corrosion safely to keep it in great condition. If the test shows that the battery is almost dead, invest in a new one in order to keep your engine healthy and to make sure you don't come across a dead battery on the morning of a big exam. The average battery lasts about four years, so if yours is already around that age absolutely get yours checked!
If you would like to make an appointment with us, click here.
4. Inspect All Five Tires (Yes, Five!)
One of the most cost effective and most proactive ways to keep a car safe is to check the tire pressure and tread. Check that the tire pressure in each tire is at the recommended level, which you can find in your manual.
To look for signs of tread wear, you can try the penny trick: you place a penny head first into several tread grooves across the tire. If you always see the top of Lincoln's head, your tread is too shallow and is worn. If that is the case, your tire(s) needs to be replaced.
Also check if there is any damage, leaks and/or bulges on the tires. Any type of aging on your tires can prevent the tires from performing as they are intended, which can be a serious safety risk since it increases the chance of your car getting into an accident or hydroplaning.
If you would like to make an appointment with us, click here.
5. Clean the Car
This one is always difficult, but keeping your car clean will not only make drives with your friends more pleasant but it will also increase the resale value when you decide to upgrade your car. You can either take this to a professional or save some money and do it yourself!
6. Go Over Car Maintenance
Make sure to stay on top of the following by getting them/it checked regularly by your local college mechanic (or learn how to check some of these on your own):
- Keep track of tire pressure
- Check battery regularly
- Stay vigilant on car fluids
- Keep your car clean