Car Maintenance Tips Bethesda MD

Keeping a car running in top shape doesn't have to be mission impossible. If you follow these basic maintenance rules, you may save thousands of dollars in repair bills and watch your vehicle's odometer spin up to 150,000, even 200,000, reliable miles.

Just like you, your car likes to ease into the morning. First, make sure you start up your vehicle with the climate control, stereo, and headlights turned off. Leaving them on drains the battery faster and taxes the engine, says Tony Molla, vice president of industry affairs at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Also, don't rev the engine. This doesn't help warm the car up. Instead, revving can damage the engine and shorten its life. A worn out drivetrain can cost $5,000 or more.

Low air pressure causes tires to overheat and leads to excessive tread wear. Too much air pressure causes uneven wear. Either way, you could find yourself facing safety concerns and shelling out $400 or more for a new set of tires. Check or have a mechanic check your tire pressure at least once a month. If you hear them squealing while you're turning corners at normal speed, pump them up, says Molla. Also, check your owner's manual for information on scheduling tire rotation, which can extend the life of the set of tires and allow even wear.

Your vehicle provides plenty of clues when it's not functioning 100 percent.  Just use your eyes, ears and nose. For example, look for drops of oil or coolant on the driveway, which indicate a leak....