How to Keep Your Car in Top Shape Alexandria VA

Your car is a very important piece of your life and it's also a very expensive machine that needs regular checkups to keep it in tiptop shape. There are so easy things you can do to ensure that your car operates at its optimal level. The major things you can do to keep your car running properly in to tune your engine, and keeping an eye on your filters and fluids.

Tune Your Engine

You can usually tell if you a car is out of tune if it is emitting a large amount of emission, if the engine sounds choppy, or if you notice any other unusual sounds coming from under your hood. These type of engine problems reduce your mileage by at least five percent and can improve it by up to fourty five percent depending on the problem. When your engine sounds strange or you notice a large quantity of emissions this is usually caused by a defective oxygen sensor that is either adding too much or too little oxygen into your exhaust. This type of problem can result in a huge loss at the pump and could add as much as 10 cents per gallon to your gas bill.

Keep an Eye on Your Filters and Fluids

Clogged air filters are another leading cause to the increased waste of fuel and can raise your gas costs by ten to fifteen percent. The air filter catches dirt and grit in order to protect the inside of your engine. By replacing or cleaning air filters on a regular basis will not only lower your fuel costs drastically it will also increase the lifespan of your engine.

Fluid are the lifeblood of your car and it's engine and by neglecting this key aspect of your car you will quickly ensure that your car is nothing more than a large chunk of metal that is taking up space in your driveway. Some of the more important fluids you need to keep an eye on include your power steering fluids, transmission fluids, engine coolant, and of course the most important fluid you have to keep an eye on is your engine oil.

Oil is the single most important fluid that you put into your car, it feeds your engine and helps keep all of the parts lubricated against the friction that is produced when you operate your car. Generally speaking you should change your oil every eight to ten thousand miles depending on the types of driving conditions that are normal for your area. When you replace the oil in your car you should use the grade of oil that is recommended for your car as this can increase your fuel mileage by two to three percent.