Oil Changes — Refer to your owner’s manual on how often you should have the oil changed in your car. Typically, the rule of thumb has been to have it changed every 3,000 miles. There are some folks that believe the 3,000 mile rule was created as a scare tactic back in the day…and that there’s no reason to have it changed that often.
Personally, I try very hard to stick to the 3,000 mile rule. I feel my car is a huge investment, second only to my house. I want to take care of it so it will last for as long as possible. (My wife and I buy cars and plan to KEEP them for several years.) An oil change is a small investment to make. Plus…when I take my car in, they not only change the oil and filter, but they look at hoses, belts, tires and other items that need to be checked out.
Tires — How healthy are your tires? Here’s a video that helps you check the tread depth of your tires. You should also have your tires rotated every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. A good rule of thumb is to have your tires rotated every other time you get your oil changed. That’s assuming you have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. Here’s a video that will help you understand the importance of tire rotation.
Tire Pressure — As the Michelin tire commercial proclaimed several years ago, “…there’s so much riding on your tires.”. It’s true. If you’re like me, you depend on those four rubber rings to get you from point “A” to point “B” several times a day, every day of the week.
Having the proper air pressure in your tires is important for a few reasons. First, it helps prolong the life of your tires. Second, your car will handle better when the tires are properly inflated. Third, you get better gas mileage when your tires are driven on with the recommend PSI [pounds (of air) per square inch].
How much air should be in your tires?
Check the sidewall of the tire and/or the sticker inside the driver’s side door frame. If they are different, my sources tell me you should go with the PSI listed on the sticker. Be sure to check the air pressure when your tires are cold.
Spare Tire– I won’t spend a lot of time here, but…be sure your spare tire is inflated properly too. It’s one of those ‘out of sight, out of mind things’. So…take the time to check your spare tire in the next day or so. It won’t do you any good if it’s flat!
Windshield Wipers – Driving in the rain with worn windshield wipers is a major pain. Especially at night. Summer heat and sunlight take a toll on wiper blades. And freezing temps and ice don’t do them much good either. I recommend that you replace them at least two or three times a year.
I installed new blades back in late October and I need to replace them now. My daily commute to and from work here in northern Indiana involves a major interstate. With all the truck traffic, there’s a ton of snow and salt that ends up on my windshield. I use my wipers a lot. And I go through a lot of window washing solution too.
Window Washing Solution – Keep your reservoir full. There’s nothing worse than needing solution and not having any. Be sure you use winter-grade solution if you live in an area where temperatures go below freezing. Take if from one who accidentally grabbed the summer widow washing solution last winter and filled up the tank in my Nissan only to find out that the next morning, the solution had frozen. It was a major ordeal to get that fixed. 
Emergency Road Kit – I’m assuming that you or one of your passengers has a cell phone with them. Call 911 if you have an emergency. Keep the following items handy in a bag or backpack in case of an emergency:
- Flashlight (with fresh batteries)
- Bottled water (two or three 16.9oz. bottles). If you live in an area where temps dip below freezing, open each bottle and pour a small amount out, then put the cap back on. In freezing temperatures, water expands and could rupture the plastic bottle.
- Waterproof poncho
- Cloth gloves
- Blanket
- Atlas
- Emergency flares
- Booster cables
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Winter climates: extra pair of gloves, hat, scarf
Do any of these items need to be put on your project list or calendar? We all get busy and sometimes the mundane tasks never bubble up to the top.
Take action: It’s no fun to be stranded on the side of the road!
