3 Things an Auto Mechanic Wished You Would Do

Unless you read auto magazines regularly or are an amateur car enthusiast, your knowledge about the ins and outs of your vehicle may be limited to knowing when to buy petrol and knowing when you need new tyres because you can see the wear on the treads. But there are some important things that auto mechanics wish you knew that can save you money and also provide you with the knowledge to understand some of the more common repairs that these professionals perform.

Change Your Oil -- This is one of the most common refrains from auto mechanics because the oil in your vehicle lubricates the engine and is responsible for some of the more basic functions of your vehicle. To keep running at optimal efficiency, the engine needs clean oil. Most auto mechanics recommend that you follow the recommendations on your vehicle's manual in terms of oil grade and frequency of oil change. Typically, once every six months is the standard recommendation, but if you drive your vehicle seven days a week, especially if it's used in the course of your work, then you should have the oil changed every three months.

Rotate Your Tyres -- Rotating your tyres means that you take the tyres from the front of your vehicle and place them at the back and vice versa. Why is this important? Because the front tyres are typically going to wear down at a quicker rate than the back tyres due to the fact that turning and accelerating put more pressure on the front of your vehicle. Many auto mechanics recommend that you rotate your tyres once every six months to preserve the life of all your tyres. This can also improve traction and handling when you're driving.

Keep a Standard Maintenance Schedule -- To help prevent large repairs to your vehicle, auto mechanics recommend that you abide by the maintenance schedule included in your vehicle's manual. But since many people never read the manual, here are the major areas that you should be checking once every few months. You should check to ensure that your battery has an adequate charge, check the fluid levels of your oil, brakes, coolant, windshield and power steering, have your brakes checked to ensure the pads aren't worn down and have a mechanic inspect the belts, hoses and spark plugs for any potential issues. Establishing a consistent maintenance schedule can help your auto mechanic detect trouble spots and fix them before they get worse. A professional, like Treg Smiths Auto's Pty Ltd, can help get you started.