An automobile may be considered as a necessity, a status symbol or even a long standing member of the family. Automobiles are much more than means of transportation. People save and scrimp for them. People flaunt them. People engage in races, entertain themselves with monster cars, go for road trips, and travel as a family so on. Cars hold special places in people’s hearts.
Like every cherished possession, automobiles also need proper use, storage and maintenance. Automobiles used without paying attention to its specifications, its purpose, and road and weather conditions seriously destroy the life. Not checking the parts for wear or not replacing them with manufacturer specified parts, not checking various auto-fluid levels, not topping them in a timely manner, not checking the wear of tires, not adhering to a regular servicing schedule are some factors akin to criminal negligence where an automobile is concerned.
A busy life is a poor excuse for not paying enough attention to your automobile’s needs when one has options like online auto-centers offering automobile servicing packages for tire, battery, oil and lube checks and change etc-for example the Walmart Auto-centre, company auto-parts stores, maintenance shops/repair shops, mobile maintenance vans. Thanks to digitization, one can simply locate the nearest option over the internet, locate their contact details and pay for a maintenance service. Due to digitization, one can easily verify whether the store is certified by the automotive association, what products are best suited to your car, whether the store/shop is selling you the product most suited to your automobile. The basic TLC that every needs regularly is related to the tires, batteries, oils and lubricants, fuel system, basic anti-corrosion, dust, sludge treatment.
Tires-most easily worn out part as they come in contact with roads and every other surface. They need proper air pressure, alignment, replacement, surface wear checks to make the car run smooth and safe.
Batteries- battery performance, consistency of the material in the leads, anti corrosion treatment, replacement of battery leads.
Motor oils and lubricants- Motor oils and lubricants keep the moving parts of the car running smoothly limiting friction, countering effects of heat or cold temperature. Additives in motor oils (conventional or synthetic or blended) usually are used to counter the sludge formation, heat/cold resistance, improve mileage. In fact oil is considered as the ‘lifeblood of a car’.
Fuel system- Without fuel, an automobile won’t run. It is what feeds the car and makes it move. Fuel injection systems, filters, gaskets, pumps and related electrical components need to be monitored for fuel level, excess or reduced flow, contamination so on.
There are hundreds of tiny to large components that make up an automobile and they are usually grouped together on the basis of their function although they might be located apart. A regular automobile servicing schedule runs checks on all of them with attention to cleaning the exterior and interior of the car.