Any tips for maintaining a new car?

Answer 1

Please regard your maintenance service schedule inside your glove-compartment as your personal bible. It's been my experience that by keeping the oil changed at the regular service intervals using 100% synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 will reap huge benifits. Mobil 1 pours at 54 degrees below zero farenheight. Cold start-ups is where 80% of internal engine wear occurs. It has excellent detergent and anti-wear properties also.
When I purchased My 04 Toyota Camry it was right in the middle of Toyota's engine oiling problems with excess sludge and varnish. I decided to use 5W-30 Mobil 1 to combat the problem. To this day 42,000 later inside the valve cover the camshafts and cylinder head is as clean as a hospital operating room. The little 4 cyl. motor doesn't use a drop of engine oil between the (factory scheduled) 5,000 mile oil changes.
Many new cars today have switched their oil viscosity to 5W-20 for purely fuel economy purposes. The internal clearances are machined and fitted tighter than before. I'd still use synthetic because thin synthetic oil actually cools the engine better than thicker high vscosity oils.
I have a very good friend who builds Chevrolet and Dodge racing engines for a living and he has dyno sheets to prove you get more horsepower using thinner oil. Again, the bearings are fitted .0002 - .0004 (tenths) and the pistons .0003 tighter. If you'd like to see a real shocker google: Joe Gibbs ( Washington Redskins Football Coach) Racing Oil. You'll see listings of the oil they yse to break in engines on the engine dynos, qualifing, when the restrictor plates are used and when the 850 Holley carbuerator is used un-restricted.

Your going to get a lot of answers that recommend using all types of crazy high viscosity motor oils please don't fall for it. Your car manufacturer knows what's best to make your investment last a long time. Also, do not fall for guys who advise extended 15,000 -25,000 mile drain intervals. Your new car warranty will fly right out the window.

Answer 2

So many things are important, yet so many things get ignored. The most important things on any car is the fluids.

Oil! Check your manual. The 3,000 mile thing is from 40 years ago. Doesn't hurt if you change it more often, but really, the most important thing is to do it as the manual says which is more like 5,000 miles. Go ahead and spring for a lube, if not every oil change, then every other change.

Coolant and transmission fluid, they don't need it nearly as often, just follow the manual. Forget what the service stations try to sell you on. They'd have you believe you need to change it with each season, but that's just to make money. But it does need to be done periodically as the manual states.

After that, probably tire rotation. Besides extending the life of your tires, it also keeps your mileage up, and keeps your car in alignment.

Sure, you can change air filters, fuel filters, all the little gadgets and do-hickeys every few months, but I don't worry about it. Occasionally I need a tune-up. On very rare occasions (after a few years) something wears out and needs to be replaced. So I take it in for repair. And my cars have been lasting for 7, 8 years before I sell them, and stay on the road for a few years for the next buyer.

Answer 3

As most of the posts previous, yes review your owners manual that you have received with the new vehicle.

Read your warranty agreement you signed upon purchase of vehicle.

Follow instructions carefully and you will be just fine.

Wash your car when you can, dont ever wax your car in the sunlight, hmmmm, inspect your vehicle bi-weekly, record mileage and any receipts you have for the vehicle.

Any problems take back to dealership and be polite (Not Angry) and explain your dilema and they should treat you just fine and dandy.

Answer 4

The owner's manual is your best source. I have found that changing the oil every 3500 miles has helped with several other "new" cars that are now 8 years old.

Answer 5

the best thing you can do is get the owners manual out and read all of it,believe it or not car company's spend millions of dollars on printing those ,and they have the best maintenance schedule in them that there is,if you,ll read it all the way through i guarantee you by the time your done you,ll know things about your car that you wouldn't have never known before,and please remember to put it back in the vehicle,so many people loose these,but if you,ll read it,you,ll know a lot more about your vehicle,good luck with it.

Answer 6

Change the oil every 3,000 miles, check tire pressure bi weekly, with those simple steps you should be fine. As time passes by you should or if you live in a hot area, you should check coolant levels, and all belts.

Answer 7

You should have gotten a book in the package you received from the dealership that has the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule.

Answer 8

If you are going to use protective additives for oil especially, do it from the start. It will save wear on the car.

Answer 9

Read the owner's manual from cover to cover, and follow the manufacturer's maintenance plan.

Answer 10

read the owners manuel,under maint. it'll tell you all you need to know plus more. read on, i'm sure you'll learn alot more