Check oil

Oil is the lifeblood of your car. You need to have enough, and it needs to be clean. Oil needs to be changed because tiny shards of your engine are literally wearing off, and then getting mixed into your oil as it circulates through the engine. (Picture grains of sand in a glass of milk. You won't notice a few grains today. But a few new grains everyday for a month or so will really get gross!) You should check your oil every week, to be sure you don't have a leak, since running without oil can severely damage your car's engine. Every 3 months of 'average' driving (1000 miles/month) so need to empty out your oil and replace it with new oil.

Check Tire Air Pressure

Not only can you save a bunch of fuel cost by having your tires properly inflated, by you can also affect the safety performance of your vehicle. It's not enough that your tires are 'not too squishy'. You need to get a tire pressure gauge and check them regularly. Tire gauges are cheap, grab one at the dollar store and keep it in your car. Your tires were designed to work properly at a specific pressure. (It's written on your tires, by the way.) Add or remove air as needed to keep your tire performing at their safest. While you're out there, check for tire tread wear. Put a penny headfirst into the tread. If it doesn't cover any of President Lincoln's head, it's tire for new tires.

Wiper blades

Everyone forgets about wiper blades. It's hard to remember them, because you only think about them when it's raining, and by then it's too late to change them. You need to put 'replace windshield wiper blades' on your to-do list (do it *now*, while you're thinking about it!), so that you don't have visibility problems just when it's most important to see well.

More Car Tips:

- More Car Care Tips
- 10 Good Reasons for Annual Maintenanace & Safety Checks
- 10 Ways to Save Gas