Modern cars are significantly more complex than their counterparts from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and working on them is an even more specialized discipline. The modern mechanic needs a laptop computer as much as he needs a tool box, and for this reason even those with a decent aptitude for working on engines are opting to have their repairs done by a professional. Still, there are a number of simple car maintenance steps that anyone can do. These simple tasks will go a long way toward preventing trouble which saves you time and money as well as resulting in a safer driving experience.

–Wash your car often: While the exterior of your car isn’t as important as what’s under the hood it’s still necessary to take care of it. A clean car looks better, of course, but it also helps in a few practical areas. Keeping your windshield clean inside and out, obviously, is crucial for safety. Washing you car often keeps your headlights clean. And, of course, frequent washing helps prevent rust and corrosion extending the life of your vehicle.

–Clean the undercarriage of the car: This is especially true if you live anywhere it snows”all of the salt and other gunk your car gets underneath it will rust out your body faster than anything. I dont care how cold it is, you should give your car a good bath at least once a week during the winter, and make sure to get underneath the wheel wells and the undercarriage of your car.

–Wash your engine: Not only is your engine subject to the same ‘threats’ as the exterior and undercarriage of your car, it also collects crusty oil, battery acid and a variety of other contaminants. Keeping your engine clean will not only protect against corrosive damage, but will help your car run cooler and more efficiently. Wash your engine every time you wash your car, and let it idle before you start driving to allow it to dry completely.

–Clean your air filter and change it often: Change your air filter every time you change your oil filter. Some might argue that changing it so often is ‘overkill’ but filters are so cheap why not err on the side of caution? In between filter changes its a good idea to give your filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber at the same time. The clean air will help your car’s engine run cooler and more efficiently.

–Check and change your oil: Back in more civilized times, a full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. You should do the same. Change your oil frequently”at least every 5,000 miles and better still, every 3,000 miles. Change your filter when you change the oil or youre going to be pumping clean oil through a dirty filter which doesnt do you a bit of good. Oil changes are a pretty easy job even for those without much of a mechanical background, and drive thru oil change businesses are ubiquitous in any decent sized market. Most of these places do a decent job and charge a reasonable fee. Many also take care of several other of the maintenance tasks on this list.

–Check other fluids: Change your anti-freeze/coolant every year, and check the reservoir every week or so to make sure it’s full. Also check transmission, brake and power steering fluids at least once a week. Top them off if necessary.

–Take good care of your tires: Check your air pressure levels with a tire gauge at least once a week, keeping them filled to manufacturer specified levels. Check the spare tire–if you have a ‘real’ tire as a spare make sure it’s properly inflated, and even if you have a ‘donut’ temporary spare make sure it isn’t damaged. Rotate your tires every few months or more frequently if you drive a lot of miles. This will insure even wear, and along with proper inflation will prevent countless problems as well as saving you time and money.

Emergency tools and equipment: Despite your best efforts to the contrary, things will eventually go wrong. When in does, youll be glad that you planned ahead. These items should be in your trunk at all times: tire gauge, pliers (slip-joint and needle nose), adjustable wrench, flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Dont buy cheap tools”theyll break and the least opportune times. Invest in Craftsman tools or another premium brand, and youll be set for life. Youll also need a flashlight, and if you live somewhere it snows its also a good idea to have salt, sand, a small shovel, and a blanket just in case you get snowbound and have to sleep in your car. A cellphone charger is also a good thing to have, since a cellphone doesn’t do much good if your batteries are dead. There are also ‘emergency’ cellphone chargers that don’t require a power source.

–Auto club membership: Just a great investment that will pay for itself the first time you lock your keys in your car or need a tow. AAA is the best known, but there are many others. Most credit card and cellphone providers offer this type of service, and a growing number of car manufacturers including VW and Mini Cooper offer it free of charge for new car buyers. At minimum, they should offer free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. Keep in mind, however, that all roadside assistance companies aren’t created equal. Compare what they offer, and consider the type of driving you do–if you frequently travel through remote areas you’re better off going with a bigger company due to their larger network of covered providers.

These tips are all things that anyone can do, even without more than a basic knowledge of how a car works. Regular car maintenance will prolong the life of your vehicle and help maintain its value, provide a safer and more enjoyable driving experience and save you money in the process.

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Traveling by car might not be as fast as taking a plane, but its still the most common method of getting from Point A to Point B, even when long distances are involved. Its not always very comfortable or enjoyable to ride in a vehicle for long periods of time, no matter what your agenda is. Whether you are on a business trip or heading for a favorite vacation spot, here are some tips to make the trip a little easier.

Be prepared. While everyone hopes to have a safe trip, that isnt always the case. Youll want to have a membership with AAA and make sure that your car insurance covers everything that might occur on your trip, including another driver if you plan on switching off. This wont prevent problems with the vehicle, but it will certainly make things less stressful if you know everything is covered. Under the same category, be sure you have a car emergency kit on hand, as well as a spare tire.

Take breaks. Theres a good reason that rest stops exist. Take the time to stop and stretch your legs at least once every few hours. This will prevent cramping later on and will get the blood flowing, which helps you stay awake on those long, boring stretches.

Invest in a nicer seat. If you travel frequently in your car, youll really appreciate a nice cushy seat. There are many options on the market, from the common wooden bead seat covers to padded ones that your bones will thank you for after several hours of driving. While the driver usually needs the best seat since its not really possible to shift around while driving, your passengers will probably appreciate comfortable covers, as well.

Bring entertainment. Just because you are driving doesnt mean you cant enjoy stretching your mind at the same time. Music gets boring after a while, so consider bringing along some audio books or a cd of an interview or seminar youve been meaning to listen to. Some people even learn new languages while on long road trips. And if you have kids, a DVD is a must to keep bickering to a minimum.

Plan your stops. Theres nothing worse than hitting the point of exhaustion only to realize that there are no hotels for miles. By planning ahead and deciding where to stop for the night on each leg of your journey, youll have a much more pleasant trip and can schedule stops at points before you get too exhausted to continue driving.

Make sure you have enough time. Rushing to get to your destination will only result in stress, frustration and speeding tickets, so its really not recommended. If at all possible, plan to take your time getting there. 5-6 hours a day is usually plenty of time to spend in a vehicle, so if you plan for short days, youll be well-rested when you arrive.

Make a list before you leave. This is very useful in preventing such tragedies as auto insurance papers left sitting in a drawer at home or forgetting your presentation cd for a business meeting. Having a list will enable you to go down it quickly and double check that you have everything you need and you wont need to turn back shortly after pulling out of the driveway.

Traveling in a car can be rather tedious, particularly if you are going to be driving for several days. These tips will help make it less problematic and help you to really enjoy your trip, no matter where you are headed.

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