CARvengers Inaugural Blog Post
CARvengers Inaugural Blog Post!
Welcome to the inaugural blog post for CARvengers! When I was thinking about what type of post would make the most impact this time of year, being the end of summer supplied the answer. At this time of year, it is best to review your car’s condition and upcoming seasonal needs and simple car maintenance. By doing some very simple tasks, your fall and winter seasons for car operation will be remarkably smooth! Make no mistake, I speak from experience and am doing all the steps mentioned in this blog.
Did you know it is best to change your wiper blades twice a year for optimal performance? The reason, even if you do not drive much the material windshield wipers are made and conditions, they are exposed cause them to breakdown. In hot climates, the rubber can break down quickly and not perform as intended. Likewise, if not driving often, the rubber can dry out depending on storage conditions. Many people have garage environments which can get hot and humid during the warmer months and cold and dry during colder months. If you are parking outside, the wiper blades are even more susceptible to wear and tear issues from constant freezing to the windshield in the winter to literally baking in the sun. Simply put, windshield wipers do breakdown over time from use and non-use. When you replace the windshield wipers, one typically wonders, “Why I didn’t do this sooner!”
Along with checking the condition of the wiper blades DO NOT forget to check your oil condition and level to evaluate for a future oil change. A lot of people believe their car oil does not need to be changed every 3,000 miles typically, but many factors truly affect oil performance. The first being, the age of your vehicle. In most cars, the owner’s manual will have in the back a maintenance schedule geared toward the type of driving you engage with the car. For instance, city driving is harder on a car and can require more frequent oil changes due to oil breakdown performance vs lighter more infrequent driving. However, it’s important to note, that oil can breakdown over time and can also retain moisture, dirt, and metals which breakdown from within the engine naturally over time. While this is normal, it’s important to place your car on a maintenance schedule for oil changes which match your driving needs. For example, my car has over 171,000 miles on it which means I will burn excess oil between oil changes due to wear and tear on the engine in addition to drying seals and seal breakdown over time within the engine itself. Plus having a turbo means my engine burns even a little more oil than usual due to higher pressures. No worries, all normal but I need to be aware that unlike newer vehicles which may have a sensor to direct needed oil changes, which mine does not have, I need to physically check the oil level, condition, and miles driven since my last oil change. When checking your oil dipstick, you can partly tell the condition of your oil by simply looking at the clarity of the oil itself. Additionally, you can purchase tools to help you identify the oil condition such as moisture and other impurities. Some of this knowledge can help identify other issues within your car’s engine bay ahead of time. As many car issues start small and grow over time. My car, a 2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT, between the engine age and having a turbo, I need to be ever present about the oil level and condition. I simply now have a reminder sticker in my inner windshield which reminds me to check my oil at 2,000 miles. Why 2,000 miles? Honestly, since after some servicing experience, I’ve come to realize my oil level seems to go down quicker just after 2,000 miles. Each car is unique and depending on many factors as time passes, it’s important to check future servicing needs more often. This helps avoid costly and premature repairs down the road. Just as with one’s own health, preventative car service is the key to a long-lasting vehicle and better resale opportunities!
