Easy At-Home Vehicle Care 

There’s more to taking care of your vehicle than filling it with gas or charging it. In fact, there are many things you can do to care for your vehicle at home to prolong a good appearance, increase operational longevity and performance, and ensure continued safety.  

Care For Your Vehicle at Home 

Check out these at-home care tips for your vehicle: 

Wash and wax

Yes! Washing and waxing your vehicle are part of regular maintenance, it’s easy to do at home and will help your vehicle retain its value. Properly cleaning your vehicle can prolong and protect the clear coat and paint, as well as help maintain other exterior items such as wheels and trim. Don’t forget your interior—you’ll be amazed what a quick vacuum and a wipe down of your dashboard/center console can do. 

Check your tires

Tires can be overlooked when it comes to at-home vehicle care but having tires that are in good shape is vital to the proper operation and safety of your vehicle. Complete a visual inspection and look for any abnormal wear on the tread and sidewall. Use the penny test to confirm safe tread depth, and use a tire pressure gauge to check that your tires are properly inflated. 

Fill fluids

You can check and fill many of the fluids that run throughout your vehicle. Depending on the fluid, you’ll want to use the dipstick or reservoir lines provided to confirm that your fluids are full. You can most likely check oil, transmission, brake, coolant and wiper fluids. If they are a little low simply fill them with the proper fluid replacement, if they are very low you should look under the hood as well as under the vehicle to see if there might be a leak in the system. 

Check your lights

Your lights are another important safety item and are incredibly easy to check at home. Ask a family member, friend or neighbor to help you. All they have to do is stand outside your vehicle and confirm that your lights work when you turn them on, press the brakes or switch the type of headlight you’re using. If a light is out, you can check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to replace it. 

Take it for a spin

If you have a vehicle that you don’t use very often, caring for it at home can be as simple as taking it for a drive once a week. Keeping your vehicle moving charges your battery, helps you avoid flat spots on your tires, keeps all of the moving parts on your vehicle lubricated and prevents your vehicle from becoming home to unwanted rodents and insects. You might also be able to spot other small maintenance items before they become a larger repair. 

At-Home Vehicle Care

These are just a few of the things you can do to take care of your vehicle right at home. By keeping up on these vehicle maintenance items, you can help extend the life of your vehicle as well as ensure its safety on the road.  

Need help with vehicle care?

Contact any of our Ontario dealerships to learn how their service departments can help you care for your vehicle, be it for regularly scheduled maintenance or with needed repair.