The time we decide on going for a drive, it is also the time we should be aware of our car's performance. There are many actions that a regular driver should take into account, and car maintenance is one. It is important to add that a regular maintenance is significant to ensure different aspects such as safety, comfort and endurance.

Maintenance means taking care of all the parts, even those that are inside the bonnet. These are the ones that directly concern the performance of your car. Besides taking it to the service station at regular periods, it is a good idea to go through the owner's manual that will give a fair idea about its routine maintenance.

On the other hand, it is not difficult to keep your car in good shape. Here are some basic things you can do to keep it that way:

• Firstly, a maintenance schedule, there is a number of things that need to be regularly serviced or replaced at certain intervals (e.g. brakes, air filter, oil, coolant, etc.)


• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. If your air pressure is just a few pounds low, you will force the engine to work harder, and burn more gasoline or petrol. Tires that are misaligned also make your vehicle work harder. Consider too that poorly maintained tires wear out faster, and that means more discards have to be scraped, recycled or sent to the landfill.


• The use of original staff will make you feel safe, during your driving.


• Keep all the fluids clean and topped up.


• Wash and wax your vehicle once in a while to keep the car clean and protected from corrosion.


• Deal with any problems as soon as they arise, before they become more serious and require expensive repairs.

While there is no single vehicle that is ideal for every lifestyle, a good car care allows you to maximize gas mileage for your particular make and model, and thus saves your money and helps the environment.