Most Americans know they need to spend a significant portion of the day taking care of their bodies and overall health. Your vehicle deserves the same treatment as well-especially if you want it to last as long as possible. Here's a list of things you can do to care for your car, whether you already own a vehicle or are shopping at an INFINITI of SoCal.
Change Your Oil
Regularly changing your oil is perhaps the most important task on your car care checklist. Oil degrades over time with regular use. It becomes thicker and starts to clump up the more that it's used. It also slowly evaporates, so you must ensure your oil is fresh to give your engine maximum protection against wear and tear. The longest your INFINITI should go with the same batch of oil is 5,000 miles or six months.
Tire Pressure
Keeping your tires in good shape isn't just important for safety reasons. Your vehicle's performance can suffer if your tire pressure is too low. You can easily check it yourself every couple of weeks or once a month at nearly every gas station which has an air pump. Refer to your Infiniti owner's manual for optimal tire pressure levels to ensure your tire pressure levels are ideal.
The Check Engine Light
Your engine light can activate for a variety of reasons. The light behaves differently, depending on the car, so familiarize yourself with the check engine light patterns and what they mean. Sometimes, it's a minor problem that can wait until your next service visit. Other times, you may need to pull over immediately if it's really trying to get your attention.
Rotating and Balancing Tires
Another tip for tire care is to regularly rotate them according to your local INFINITI dealership of Southern California. Keeping them on one side for too long causes uneven wear on the treads. This translates into lower gas mileage, and you'll need to replace the full set sooner rather than later. Many shops recommend rotating them every oil change, but every 8,000 miles is frequent enough.
Air Conditioning Upkeep
While not directly related to performance, keeping your AC system in good shape is important. You don't want your unit to stop working in the middle of summer. Regular AC maintenance will increase its overall longevity. Letting it go untouched for too long allows mold and fungus to grow, which can eat away at your Infiniti and your health.
Engine Air Filter
Your engine needs clean air as much as you do. Running with a dirty air filter allows foreign particles to enter your engine. This causes a drop in gas mileage and performance, while also increases the wear on sensitive internal parts. Replace your Infiniti's air filter every 15,000 miles for best results.
Car Battery
Keeping your car battery and its connections clean will save you from many potential headaches. Don't put yourself in a situation where you have to call a friend or vehicle service company to jumpstart your car. Have your mechanic clean and check your battery's health during each service visit.
Now you should have a better understanding of your car's parts and why it's important to take good care of them. Are you ready to make your brand-new INFINITI last for years to come? Schedule an appointment with your INFINITI of Thousand Oaks today to test drive your dream car.
