10 Automotive Maintenance Tips You Should Know

If you know your Kia maintenance schedule inside and out, then you know that most of the Kia service items are best left to trained professionals like the mechanics at our service department. But, just because you have us to rely on does not mean you shouldn’t get to know your vehicle and its components a little better! In fact, we at Hendrick Kia of Cary believe there are 10 automotive maintenance tips that every driver should know. Ready to increase your repertoire of knowledge and drive with more confidence in Raleigh? Continue reading to get started!

Our Top Kia Maintenance Tips

1. Be Familiar with the Manual: Your owner’s manual includes everything from your automotive maintenance schedule to diagrams of your vehicle’s various systems and so much more. You’ll understand your vehicle and its Kia service needs better if you know the manual!
2. Inspect Your Vehicle Routinely: From your manual, you can learn about how to inspect different areas of your vehicle and identify potential problems. 
3. Check Your Tires: Monitor your tire pressure by testing it relatively frequently. Your TPMS should alert you when your pressure is off, but it never hurts to check it yourself. Additionally, you should keep track of your tire tread. When it gets below 2/32 of an inch, you need new tires. 
4. Check the Oil Level: Check your oil once per month to ensure it’s in good condition and at the right level. If the oil is low there could be a leak. If the oil looks dirty it’s time for an oil change. 
5. Check the Engine Coolant: Your owner’s manual will help you learn where the reservoir is to check the coolant level; this is a good automotive maintenance tip to know so your engine never overheats in Durham. 
6. Inspect the Engine Air Filter: Check the engine air filter to see if it’s getting too full of dirt and debris. If the engine air filter is clogged, it cannot effectively filter our contaminants and there will be poor airflow which can lead to overheating. 
7. Use the Right Fuel: Your vehicle has an octane rating that’s listed in the manual; this tells you what type of fuel you need to use when you stop at the gas station in Apex. Using the wrong fuel may cause engine knocking. 
8. Check Light Bulbs: Ask a friend or family member to watch your exterior lights as you cycle through them to check whether they’re burnt out. Remember to test your headlights, fog lights, high beams, turn signals, tail lights, and brake lights.
9. Change the Windshield Wipers: A lesser spoken Kia service item is wiper replacement! When the wipers are cracked and dried out, skipping across the windshield, or leaving streaks, it’s definitely time to change them. 
10. Track Your Automotive Maintenance Schedule: It’s all too easy to forget when you last brought your car in per the Kia maintenance schedule. Keep track of your mileage at each service visit so you know when to schedule your next oil change, tire rotation, etc.

Schedule Kia Service in Cary!

We hope these Kia maintenance tips will help you feel like a more confident car owner! Even if you don’t drive a Kia, you can think of these as broad automotive maintenance tips that apply to pretty much any gas-powered make or model on the road. Have additional questions for us? Contact a service advisor online or book an appointment if you’re overdue for Kia service!