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Crucial Preventative Maintenance Tasks for Your Vehicle

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As a father, your children trust you to handle certain maintenance issues and teach them about keeping a car intact. However, you need to know some preventative maintenance tips for yourself. Read on for some crucial information on preventative maintenance for your vehicle.

Changing Spark Plugs

The spark plugs are small parts of a vehicle, but they greatly impact its function. The combustion chamber in the engine requires a spark to ignite the fuel and create the force to move the cylinders. The spark plugs supply this spark from the battery’s electricity, making them an integral part of the vehicle’s operation.

If the spark plugs break or become damaged, your vehicle will stall no matter how often you turn the key. On average, the spark plugs need replacement every 40,000 miles to ensure your vehicle won’t become a lemon. Some spark plugs will last longer, especially if they contain copper or iridium. Pay attention to the material before buying your new spark plugs to reduce your trips to the automotive shop.

Checking Tire Pressure and Treads

The tires will sustain damage as the vehicle moves over bumps and potholes. They will lose air pressure over time due to the vehicle’s weight on top of them or the weather conditions that may decrease internal pressure. Check the tire pressure to ensure the tires have enough durability to move over jagged rocks and prevent heavy shocks to the vehicle when driving over speed bumps.

You’ll need to inspect the tires’ treads to guarantee they maintain their shape. The treads give a car the traction it needs to speed up or slow down. If the tires lose those treads, your car will become challenging to control.

Inspecting the tires every other week will ensure they are safe enough for the road. This crucial preventative maintenance task for your vehicle will prevent accidents and help you control the car in even the heaviest traffic.

Inspecting the Engine

The engine is a large culmination of different parts, and you need to inspect the interior and exterior to ensure no issues. A breakdown could occur from various instances, such as a cracked cylinder or leaking oil, because every part of the engine is important in its function. The engine is the heart of the vehicle, and you’ll need to keep it in good shape and give it routine check-ups.

The parts connected to the engine, such as the battery or turbocharger, will also need an inspection. The car’s battery charges the electrical systems, such as the spark plugs and diagnostic systems. Routinely inspect the turbocharger to ensure it creates a sufficient boost and doesn’t impair speed.

Check every part of the engine to avoid surprises down the road. Preventative maintenance should be thorough—leaving a stone unturned is never a good idea.

Maintaining your vehicle is important; these preventive measures will keep your car in good shape. Inspect, change, and measure the various areas of the vehicle so you’ll have fewer worries every time you start your car.

Sustainable Off-Roading: How To Respect the Environment

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Conquering the path less traveled in your trusty 4×4 is a fun and rewarding activity that’s even safe for the whole family! These all-terrain locations are often situated in or near protected, sensitive lands. As such, individuals must respect the environment when off-roading by practicing sustainable driving habits. Read on to learn how you can care for nature without sacrificing the enjoyment of your experience.

Leave No Trace

The “Leave No Trace”method is popular among all outdoor individuals, including campers, bikers, and mountain climbers. Whenever you enter the wilderness—whether on foot or in a vehicle —you mustdispose of any waste and/or disruptive mark of your presence. This ensures surrounding ecosystems are safe from pollution, displacement, and other harmful climate change complications. Motorized travelers should never leave behind damaged or replacement vehicle parts or other automotive waste.

Designated Land

Across the United States, most off-roading locations exist on designated public lands. Your movement is often limited to paths marked with appropriate signage. It’s crucial to remain on the designated trail in these environments at all times. Public land is typically separated by recreational and protected sections—the protected areas contain sensitive ecosystems and sometimes human communities that don’t want all-terrain tire marks throughout their land. Additionally, restricted zones are usually too hazardous for motorized activities and may result in an accident or something worse.

Repay the Trails

Without these spectacular public lands, many off-roading enthusiasts would lack the proper environments to conduct their favorite activities. Unfortunately, these off-roading trails are often under-protected and underfunded, leaving them at risk of disappearing completely. Moreover, certain off-roaders don’tpractice sustainable driving habits, further damaging these sensitive lands.

Aside from resisting the urge to spin mud vigorously, it’s recommended that you “pay back” your time spent on these lands by volunteering. Various local and national organizations are always looking for assistance in maintaining and restoring protected wildland locations. This type of work is educational and rewarding for the entire family, especially when teaching young children about the importance of the environment.

Preparing for an off-roading adventure is an amazing experience, but we must take responsibility for its impact on surrounding ecosystems. Practicing sustainable off-roading habits and understanding how to respect the environment ensures suitable trails for many more years to come!

What Is a Timing Belt and When Should You Replace It?

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Replacing a car’s timing belt is one of the car maintenance issues most car owners dread. The process can be labor-intensive, depending on the model of the vehicle. However, timing belt failure can leave you or a family member stranded at the side of the road. Here’s what you need to know about timing belts and when to replace them.

What Is a Timing Belt?

The timing belt is a crucial part of every car’s engine. It helps synchronize the crankshaft and camshaft, which turn combustion into motion. Since the intake valve and pistons can’t exist in the same space at the same time, the timing belt ensures that they each take turns without colliding.

If your timing belt breaks, you could end up with serious engine damage that will make routine timing belt maintenance look like a piece of cake.

When To Replace Your Timing Belt

Many manufacturers recommend having your car’s timing belt changed at a certain mileage, but this number is only an estimate. You should replace your timing belt when it gets old or worn, and offering a mileage estimate is the best guess that manufacturers can make.

Here are all the reasons it could be time to replace your timing belt:

  • The car has been sitting unused for a long time.
  • You haven’t replaced the timing belt in seven or more years.
  • You’ve reached the manufacturer’s mileage recommendation.
  • You notice oil seals from the timing belt cover leaking onto the belt.
  • The exterior drive belts have started to crack.

Since rubber dries out when it’s not in use, it’s critical not to leave your car sitting for long periods. When you see that your other drive belts start to crack, you can often assume that your timing belt might be cracking too.

Managing Family Vehicles

If you have multiple vehicles in your family, it’s a good idea to make everyone aware of the dangers of timing belt failure. Have everyone record the maintenance for their vehicles so that you can make sure that people aren’t losing track of the more long-term maintenance repairs.

Hopefully, this guide to timing belts and when to replace them will help you and your family members stay safe. Routine maintenance may be a hassle, but emergency repairs are much worse.

How To Clean Pollen and Debris off Your Car

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Everyone loves the warmer weather that comes with spring and summer, but in some places, the changing seasons also bring a major problem: tree pollen. In warm months, trees release pollen into the air, resulting in a thick layer of yellow-green dust on fences, siding, and cars. If you live somewhere with a lot of trees, you’re going to need to know how to clean pollen and debris off your car.

Clean Regularly

Following the tips in this blog post on a regular basis will make your life so much easier than if you wait until the end of pollen season to clean. Not only is it terrible to let pollen sit on your car (pollen’s acidity can damage your car’s paint!), but it’s much harder to clean off when there is weeks and weeks of build-up.

Rinse With Water

There are many different types of car cleaning tools that are useful for removing pollen and other debris. For this step, you’re going to need a garden hose, preferably with an attachment that lets you choose from a number of spray styles. Spray your car thoroughly, starting at the top and working your way down to the tires.

Deep Clean With Shampoo

Depending on how bad the pollen build-up is, you may need some extra cleaning power, like a car shampoo, to help remove all the dirt, pollen, and tree sap on your car. Never use non-car cleaning products because these contain harsh chemicals that can damage your paint.

Dry Thoroughly

Once you’ve cleaned your vehicle, you’ll need to dry it. Since you may miss invisible particles when rinsing your car, drying is the final step needed to get rid of any and all remaining pollen. While you can certainly dry your car by hand with a microfiber cloth, it’s easier to take your vehicle for a quick spin around the neighborhood and let the air do the work.

Prevent Further Build-Up

Now that you’ve cleaned all the pollen and debris off your car, you don’t want to let the grime build up again. The best way to prevent more pollen build-up is to park your car under a shelter, like a garage or carport, and away from any trees.

Whether you’re trying to keep your own car clean or teach a young driver about vehicle care, these tips for getting your car through pollen season can help.

Car Parts Most Likely To Wear Out With Heavy Use

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If you own a vehicle, you probably have had to deal with numerous auto parts breaking and needing immediate attention. Every car employs a vast number of components that work in harmony to produce a smooth-driving vehicle. Some of these components are designed to eventually peter out in a safe way over time, while others are more likely to fail early in a vehicle’s life, often in disastrous fashion if left unchecked. To help you get a hold on which are most likely to break down, here are the car parts most likely to wear out with heavy use.

Oil and the Oil Filter

The oil in your automobile is meant to lubricate the engine pistons and cylinders so they don’t wear against each other, which would decrease both the efficiency and life span of the engine. Changing your car’s oil on a regular basis is part of proper automobile maintenance, whether you enlist the help of a qualified mechanic or you do it yourself. Failure to do so may cause dirt and debris to accumulate, resulting in engine failure. The oil filter in your automobile is in charge of catching any debris before it reaches the engine. Although some technicians may change the oil filter every time the oil is changed, the industry norm is every other time. It’s also worth noting that synthetic oils are made to last longer.

Car Battery

One of the most likely parts to wear out with heavy use on a car is the car battery. The battery is prone to stop working in the beginning stages of your vehicle’s life span. It is in charge of initiating and operating the vehicle’s electrical systems. If your car battery is showing signs of wear and tear, you should consider replacing it sooner rather than later. If possible, a competent professional should keep an eye on this and advise you in the appropriate route.

Suspension

The suspension is susceptible to damage with heavy off-roading use and can render your car undrivable. In most cases, suspension breakdowns result from collision or just plain old use over time, as in the case of ball joints and control arms. When components such as these fail, it can lead to disastrous consequences, including losing control of your vehicle as well as permanent suspension damage. Because of these factors, it is always best to have your suspension checked regularly.

We hope our list has inspired you to take care with the daily maintenance to ensure that even with heavy use, your car still runs just like new! Car parts just need some TLC to make sure they keep you safely on the road.

Top Tips To Help Your Child Avoid a Major Car Accident

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It’s not always the obvious things that have the most impact. Your teen has studied the statistics, taken the classes, and is finally ready to drive. But what about the statistics that show teen drivers are the most likely to be involved in an accident? Here are some of our top tips to help your child avoid a major car accident.

Help Them Develop the Right Attitude About Driving

Many teen car accidents are caused by their attitude and immaturity rather than a lack of talent or knowledge. For this reason, it is essential to confirm that your child is mature enough to get behind the wheel of a car. While many may not think of cars as deadly and dangerous, they are exactly that. If you think that your child could not handle the ownership of a gun or other dangerous object, it might be wise to reconsider a driver’s license.

Practice With Them

A parent should be as involved as possible in teaching their child to drive. To provide a more stable environment for teaching your child to drive, be sure to make a schedule. Keep practicing with them until their license exam. Many states have implemented graduated licensing rules. Make sure you’re up to date on these laws so you can ensure that your child will be able to drive legally once they pass their test!

Make Sure They Buckle Up

Teach your child that no matter what situation they are in, they must wear a seatbelt. Set a good example by buckling up yourself—besides, you want to be a safe driver too. It may be a good idea to review the seatbelt statistics published by the government to really drive home how important seatbelt usage is.

Don’t Let Them Drink and Drive

One of the biggest lessons to teach your child is the dangerous role that alcohol often has in car accidents. Be sure to tell your child about the repercussions of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other narcotics. Take care to let them know that these activities can result in the loss of their license or even their life.

Monitor Their Passengers

With each additional passenger, the probability of a fatal collision rises. When you’re dealing with a new driver, it’s ideal to keep their passengers to a minimum.

Don’t Let Them Drive at Night

It’s no secret that whenever you drive, you are risking your life. While many people may not understand this concept, it is essential that your child does. It’s best that they avoid driving at night until they’ve become used to driving during the day.

Make Sure They Follow the Speed Limit

Fast-moving, high-volume traffic can make your child feel uneasy, so have them avoid highways until they feel comfortable. It goes without saying that if you force a new driver into a stressful situation, they are likely to panic and learn nothing from the experience.

We hope you have found our tips to help your child avoid a major car accident helpful. Remember that driving safely does not only protect your teen from accidents. Learning good habits now can prevent your teen from being labeled a high-risk driver later. Make sure their first priority is to be safe on the road!

Easiest Car Repairs You Can Do Yourself at Home

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Owning a car comes with a lot of responsibility. You must keep up with regular maintenance, but you also have to be ready for unexpected repairs.

Many people think that working on their car is too complicated, but there are lots of easy repairs that you can do yourself at home without even needing to take your vehicle to the mechanic.

The next time something goes wrong with your car, save yourself some money and try one of these easy repairs at home.

Battery Replacement

One of the most common car repairs is replacing the battery. This replacement is a pretty straightforward repair that anyone can do. You need to purchase a new battery and remove the old one. Make sure to disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive one.

Installing a new battery requires the reverse process. Connect the positive terminal before the negative one.

Oil Change

Another common repair is an oil change. Every few months, you should do this repair to keep your car running smoothly. To change your oil, you’ll need to purchase the correct type of oil for your vehicle. After you get it, you can drain the old oil.

To do this, locate the oil drain plug and remove it. Once the old oil has drained out, replace the drain plug and fill the car with new oil.

Changing your oil is a great way to save money, and it only takes a few minutes to perform.

Paint Touch-Up

If your car has a few scratches or chips in the paint, you can easily touch them. First, clean the area around the scratch or chip. Then, apply a small amount of color to the area and allow it to dry.

You can find touch-up paint for your car at most auto parts stores. Just match the paint code to the code on your vehicle, and you’ll be able to find the perfect match.

If you need to do more than a touch-up, you can. There are many ways to prep a car for primer, paint, and sealer to give it a fresh coat without taking it to a professional.

Brake Pads

Over time, your brake pads will wear down and need replacement. This repair you can do at home, but it’s a little more complicated than others on this list.

To replace your brake pads, you’ll need to remove the old ones before putting in the new ones. You’ll also need to bleed the brakes to eliminate any air in the lines.

These are just a few of the easiest car repairs you can do yourself at home. Our car is one of our most important possessions, so you should take care of it and know how to do basic repairs.

When your car needs some work, save yourself some money and try to repair it yourself. With a bit of time and effort, you may be surprised at how much you can do.