Understanding the basics of car maintenance

Taking ownership of a car means more than just having a driver's license, a title to the vehicle, a set of keys and enough gas to get you to where you want to go.

Your car also probably came with a car maintenance book, filled with information on oil changes, exchanging filters, replacing spark plugs or belts, or even changing burned out light bulbs.

Even if you're not mechanically inclined, you should know the basics of car maintenance so you can communicate effectively with a mechanic when you arrive for a car tune up.

The car's service manual is the best way to learn how to maintain your car, according to Edmunds.com. This is where you can find recommended maintenance schedules for frequent services like oil changes or brake pad replacements.

Another good tool is the check engine light on your dashboard, which illuminates when something isn't working properly. If the light is steady - not blinking - the recommendation is to bring your vehicle in as soon as possible. But before you do, check to make sure you gas cap is tightly screwed on. Loose gas caps are a frequent cause of check engine lights.

If the light is blinking, this means your vehicle has a serious problem and you probably should stop driving it immediately.

Before you take your car in for a fix up, make sure you do an online search of your vehicle's make, model and year to determine if there are any service recalls posted for it.

You will also need to know how to take care of your car, which will help it run longer. You might not find this information in the owner's manual, but some tips from Reader's Digest, "74 Car Care Tips To Keep Your Automobile in Top-Notch Condition" include:

* Don't race your engine during start up.

* Accelerate slowly.

* Try to avoid breaking suddenly.

* Don't "warm" your car for a few minutes in the mornings. The engine isn't running at full peak, the fuel isn't completely combusting and soot coats the cylinder walls.

* Consolidate shorter driving trips to allow the engine to run longer and more efficiently.

Organize a car maintenance spreadsheet to help you keep track of the services you've performed so you can better track your spending and avoid duplicating anything. A little maintenance can help your car go a lot further down the road.

Courtesy of ARAcontent