Sparkleize the way you live

Angie’s List* recommends these 5 easy steps to keep your car in cruising condition with basic maintenance:

• Change your oil! Oil changes are like giving your car a steak dinner—only better. A typical oil change reduces wear and tear on an engine. If you don’t change or check your oil regularly, you could have engine damage from dirty oil, and engine damage is an expensive repair. Recommended mileage for oil changes is 3 months or 3,000 miles.

• Read the owners’ manual. Inside the manual you’ll find the services suggested for your car—and when to do them. Doing the services your owners’ manual suggests will help ward off major break downs.

• Keep your fluids in check. By getting a fluid exchange every 36,000 miles, you can enhance the parts the fluids service—Transmission, Power Steering, Brakes and Anti Freeze—and avoid a pricey repair.

• Check the filters. The air filter is often overlooked, but a yearly change can help on your gas mileage.

• Be good to your tires. As your tires wear out, your car will be more susceptible to wet, snowy or icy roads. Make sure to have your tires rotated and the alignment checked to extend their life. Keeping your tires inflated and maintained is also important, and can increase your fuel efficiency.

Keeping tires inflated

Crystal adds that it’s important to check your tire pressure on a monthly basis. Do this by:

(1) investing in a good tire pressure gauge - digital gauges like this one are easiest to use and read;

(2) setting your online calendar to remind you to check your tire pressure each month; and

(3) keeping a stash of quarters in your car so you can add air at the gas station.

Don’t know how much air your tires should hold? The sidewall of your tire should give you a maximum “psi” number. This is maximum number your gauge should ever read.

Have more ideas to share? Post a comment or write to Crystal and let her know!

*Angie’s List is one of Crystal’s favorite sites - it’s like the Consumer Reports of local services!