Driving a used car can easily become a stressful experience if you do not maintain it the right way. Proper maintenance of your vehicle is the key to its performance in the long term. Many owners of used cars in Calgary follow the principle of preventive maintenance to be able to count on their vehicle to stand up to the miles ahead, with peace of mind. Preventive maintenance is scheduled car maintenance that was set forth by the car manufacturer, with details on how often and when you’ll need oil changes and other services. With preventive maintenance and timely repairs, any used car can provide the reliability that is expected from it by its owner.
How To Maintain Your Used Car?
The first thing to do, after becoming the owner of a used vehicle, is to familiarize yourself with the user’s manual. Most used cars, depending on how many miles they have on them, could have already reached their milestones for several maintenance services, such as oil changes, tire changes, and other scheduled maintenance requirements. Keeping up with these requirements as well as staying alert about possible repairs that might be needed from time-to-time can significantly increase the number of miles your used car can go.
Several factors indicate your used car requires service.
- When you notice your car acting strange.
- When the ‘check engine’ light is on.
- When your car has gone a long time without maintenance.
- When you notice a new noise or a different sound from your car.
Any one of these factors is a good reason for you to perform a variety of maintenance tasks such as tire rotations, oil checks, or detailing. Although it is easier to take the car to a service centre for a thorough service, some people prefer performing maintenance tasks by themselves. There is nothing wrong with that if you have proper knowledge of how to go about it, but should you encounter a task that you cannot perform on your own, scheduling a service with Double L Motor is the right thing to do.
Before you begin your used car’s maintenance, here are a few tips to help you in the process.
Changing The Oil Of Your Car
As you might have realized already, oil is the lifeblood of your car. The engine of your car is only as efficient as the oil in it clean. That’s why a frequent oil change is required to keep the engine of your car running smoothly. However, the frequency of oil change and the type of oil required depends on the make of your car. Referring to the car’s manual will provide all the relevant information for this task.
Before you begin the task, make sure you have all the tools and materials you will require handy.
- Oil
- Oil filter
- Oil drain pan
- Oil filter wrench
- Wrench for the drain plug
- Jack & jack stands
- Funnel
Once you have all this, follow these steps:
- Lift the vehicle
- Find the oil filter and drain plug
- Loosen the plug to drain the oil
- Tighten the drain plug
- Replace oil filter
- Add new oil
- Check oil levels
Changing Disc Brake Pads
Brakes play a vital role in keeping you and your vehicle safe on the roads. If your car has disc brakes, then the pads can be worn down with usage. Our brake servicing takes care of changing these pads to ensure the brakes function efficiently.
You should know that it is time to change your brake pads when you notice any of these:
- Brakes feeling loose
- Brakes making squeaky noises
- Brakes working less effectively
Also, if your brakes feel squishy, you might have to bleed them to restore effectiveness. To release the air trapped in the brakes you will require special tools. Drum brakes, on the other hand, need to be replaced over time. It is best to book your car for service for these tasks if you are not sure how to go about them.
At Double L Motor, we are not only the most trusted dealers of certified used cars in Calgary, but we also ensure that your used car experience is the best.