Resolve to take better care of your car

A little bit of effort can help your vehicle last for 200,000 miles or more

With 2020 already upon us, many are making (and hopefully following) New Year’s resolutions. Aside from keeping to a diet, exercising and earning more money, it’s a good idea to make a pledge to become a more mindful motorist. Here’s a short list of the top vehicular resolutions to follow: I will check the fluids regularly. Take stock of oil, engine coolant, and transmission, power steering and brake fluid levels periodically, topping off any as necessary. This is especially important if you’re driving an older vehicle. If any of these levels are chronically low, have the car checked out by a technician. I will have the oil changed

as required. Check the owner’s manual to see what’s recommended. Oil and filter changes are usually specified for every 7,500 miles, but this is usually for what would be considered normal operation. It could be as frequent as every 3,000 miles for what’s considered “severe use,” which includes driving in extreme high and low temperatures and/or in high humidity, making repeated

short-distance hops, excessive idling and towing or hauling. I will keep an eye on the

tires. Check the air pressure frequently using a good quality tire gauge. New cars come with an air-pressure monitor that will signal whenever one (or more) tires is over- or under-inflated. Some can note the psi (pounds per square inch) readings at all four corners. You’ll find the proper inflation levels in your owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s-side door. Running on underinflated tires can lead to a drop in fuel economy and cause uneven and/or premature wear that could become a serious safety issue. Have the tires rotated with every other oil change. I will boost my car’s fuel economy. This means avoiding lead-footed acceleration, minimizing idling, removing a roof rack for better highway aerodynamics, keeping junk out of the trunk to help minimize the vehicle’s weight and consolidating multiple errands into one trip to save both time and gasoline. I’ll look under the hood.

Inspect engine belts and hoses periodically for excessive wear and/or cracks and have them replaced if necessary or as recommended by the automaker. It’s especially important to follow the automaker’s replacement interval if your car has a timing belt. That’s because if the belt snaps, it could cause serious and expensive-to-repair engine damage. I’ll heed the dashboard lights. If one or more warning lights remain illuminated after the car is started — especially the oil, brake or temperature lights — take it as a sign of trouble that’s not to be ignored. While a car will usually keep on running with the “check engine” on, this indicates an underlying problem that, at the least, can adversely affect a car’s fuel economy, or could become a more serious issue down the road.

I will listen to my car. If your car is squealing, grinding, clicking, thumping or knocking it’s trying to tell you that something’s wrong and you should have it checked out by a mechanic. Some unusual sounds might indicate simple problems that could become serious safety issues if not addressed prudently.

I will keep it clean. Wash your vehicle periodically to both keep it looking good and to clear the wheel wells and undercarriage of residual road

salt and muck. Give your car’s interior a good vacuuming to prevent ground in dirt from causing undue wear and tear to carpeting and upholstery, and spot-shampoo the interior as needed, using a household rug-cleaning sprayfoam. Apply a good coat of wax every few months to keep your ride shiny and to protect the exterior finish.