When you live in New Jersey, a car is essentially another part of your body. The Garden State should have its name changed to The Commuter State. When you’re located between three of the biggest cities around the eastern seaboard, you’re going to have a lot of people driving around to get from Point A to Point B.
You use your car almost every day, but do you take good care of it? By good care, we don’t mean taking it to a shop when the check engine light comes on. We’re talking about making an effort to make sure it’s running well and doing routine maintenance tasks when needed. If you want your car to run well and look good, there are a few essential things every car owner needs to do.
Clean your air filters
You know you need to replace the filters in your HVAC system every now and then, but you may not know the air filters in your car need the same kind of treatment. There’s always dust and debris in the air, but there tends to be more dust and debris circulating in the air during the warmer months (especially if you live in an arid climate). All of this extra dust and debris can clog the air filters in your car, which can cause extra problems. If your filters get clogged your gas mileage can suffer, and it even has the potential to damage your air flow sensor, which plays an essential role in regulating the air and fuel levels in your engine.
Keep the sun out of your car
Some people think fold-out panels that go over the front and rear dashes of their car can be a pain to deal with, but if you want to keep your car in good condition it’ll be worth it. Everyone knows that these panels can help reduce the overall temperature inside your car. It’ll help make your car much more comfortable, and could even keep you from having to blast the AC when you get back. However, a lot of people don’t know that these panels can help to prevent the sun from bleaching your interiors. Sun bleaching doesn’t just look bad, it can lower the value of your car if you ever want to sell it.
Check your tires often
What outside influences can affect the function and quality of your tires? Some people assume that tires only have to worry about being pierced, but that’s far from the truth. Excessive heat and trapped air can do a number on even the sturdiest tires. New Jersey used car dealers will tell you just how many tires they have to end up replacing when they sell a vehicle. Check your tire pressure in the summer and winter to ensure that the extreme temperatures aren’t throwing off the balance.
