For your vehicle's safety and yours, drive with care and avoid aggressive behaviors while on the road. Avoid texting, speeding, and other dangerous actions while ensuring you do not push your car too hard. Steer clear of fast accelerations, heavy/sudden braking, running over curbs, sharp turns, and shifting gears while your vehicle is still in motion. Be mindful of your surroundings and bad driving habits, and you can significantly extend the lifespan of your vehicle. 

2. Keep a Comprehensive Maintenance Log of Your Vehicle 

Keeping track of your vehicle’s maintenance can help you stay organized and pinpoint areas of concern that you can mention to your service experts. Make a log of gas fill-ups, mileage, oil changes, tire rotations, and other common maintenance and schedule regular service appointments with the experts at Bozarth Chevrolet. 

3. Check Your Fluid Levels Regularly (Yes, All of Them)

In addition to maintaining a good log is also keeping up on frequent fluid level checks. Even if you’re not an expert mechanic, it’s important to know how to change/check your fluids yourself. This includes windshield washer fluid, oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. The locations of these fluids are different depending on the model/make of your Chevy, so take a look at your vehicle’s manual and find the location and appropriate levels for your fluids. 

4. Check Your Tire Pressure and Tread Often 

Making sure your tires aren’t worn and that their pressure is correct will help them perform better and last longer. Check your tire pressure often by using a pressure gauge. Each Chevy will vary in tire pressure, so be sure to check what the appropriate number is for your vehicle in the manual or by searching online. One neat trick to help you find out if your tire tread is too low is to take a penny and insert it upside down into the groove of your tires. If you can see all of Abraham Lincoln’s head, that means your tread depth is too shallow and it’s time to head to Bozarth Chevrolet for some new ones! 

5. Schedule Routine Maintenance Service For Your Vehicle 

You’ve checked fluid levels, kept a log of your mileage, and checked your tire pressure and tread. The next thing to do is to schedule routine service appointments and stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance needs. Regularly getting oil changes, tire rotations, battery tests, and other such services will help extend the life of your vehicle. If you notice a lack of performance in your vehicle, it’s best not to ignore the problem and get it checked right away. Issues like a failing transmission or old alternator can be quick fixes that turn into big problems if not dealt with immediately. 

6. Find and Read Your Vehicle’s Manual

Now, we’re not suggesting you sit and read the entire manual and memorize its contents, but it is important for you to at least locate the manual, place it in your glove box, and bookmark the areas that are important so you can locate the info with a quick glance. 

7. Have an Emergency Roadside Kit

Having an emergency kit, especially if you’re adventuring off on a road trip, is an essential resource that will help you stay prepared for whatever issues arise. Emergency roadside kits usually include an extra car battery, jumper cables, reflective gear, an oil funnel, duct tape, tire pressure gauge, work gloves, and other such helpful items. It would also be wise to have a first aid kit handy in the car for health and safety emergencies.

8. Know What Your Vehicle is Trying to Tell You 

It can be intimidating when your car starts flashing a light on the dashboard and you have no idea what it means. That’s why it’s important to learn what all the different icons and warnings mean BEFORE they alert you, not while you're driving on the road. Common alerts deal with tire pressure, fuel gauge, brakes, and oil pressure. The most important Icon to recognize is the check engine light. Your check engine light may appear for several reasons, but it’s best to pull over immediately and have it serviced as soon as possible. 

9. Learn Best Practices For Driving in The Snow 

The best thing to do during heavy snow is to stay home. However, if that’s not an option, it’s important that you take it slow, leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles, avoid sudden braking, and be sure you have plenty of gas in case you get stuck. Buying new snow tires is a wise investment and can prevent potential dangers when driving in the snow. Consider doing so this winter as cold weather is just around the corner! 

10. Clean Your Vehicle Regularly