The WoW Style

When it comes to SUV repair and maintenance, you yourself can make your car last longer, drive better, have better gas mileage, and be an overall safer and more reliable vehicle. In this list inspired by Denver 4×4, we’ll uncover an assortment of things that can help you get the best out of your SUV.

Check Your Fluids Frequently

There are a variety of fluids that need to be regulated to keep your SUV in top shape. Check your oil frequently and have your oil changed every 3,000-5,000 to get the best life out of your engine. This will help your vehicle run smoother, start up faster, and be more efficient even with gas mileage.

• Your transmission fluid helps your transmission system by keeping it lubricated. This can aid in shifting, as well as keeping your vehicle running well, so you should check it at least once a month.
• There are oil treatments on the market for a decent price. What this does is like a conditioner for your oil. It is usually thicker than oil, and helps increase the life, can help prevent leaks, and improve your overall performance.
• Brake fluid should also be checked every month, as well as even your window washer fluid, and your antifreeze (you can check your reserve tank, as well as your radiator). Remember, when checking your radiator for antifreeze, just because the fluid is an inch from the top doesn’t mean that it’s empty or full. Make sure the car is completely cooled down (and the radiator) to avoid possible burns, and take the cap off. To test your radiator, poor just a little bit and see if it goes back down. If your antifreeze goes back down, then you can add more until this doesn’t occur, but just do it in little spurts.
• Replace your antifreeze regularly at about 25,000 miles to ensure it’s clear. This will help keep the engine and radiator from overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter.
• In the summer, it’s safe to say that 50/50 diluted antifreeze (diluted with water) is safe. In the winter, you may have colder temperatures than some places. A good general rule is that if you had 50/50 in the radiator during the summer, be sure to get a tester and add straight antifreeze to your system during the cold season. This will help protect it and make the freezing point lower.
• Have your brakes inspected at least semi-yearly. Once or twice is perfect when it comes to making sure your breaks are in good shape. If they’re not, have them replaced.
• Make sure you have tune-ups regularly. They will check for leaks, fuses, the car’s coil packs (if they have one), the spark plugs (you would be amazed at how much just changing those can do), and your fluid levels all at once.

While you can do much of this yourself, you can also take it to a certified mechanic, as they have better knowledge and can usually fix whatever is ailing your SUV. They may charge you a fee, but that’s simply the price of convenience. If you take excellent care of your car, you can be one of the few people who can actually get their vehicle to work even after 300,000 miles or more.